# NTSB WPR20CA064: Airborne XT912, N805M, Hawthorne, CA, January 13, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 13, 2020, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Hawthorne, CA - Coordinates: 33.923332, -118.337501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9233&lon=-118.3375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 100813 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100813/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100813 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA064 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to arrest the airplane’s descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, while on approach for landing, the airplane encountered a crosswind gust near the ground. The pilot attempted to abort the landing: however, he could not arrest the descent, and the airplane touched down hard on the runway. The airplane briefly became airborne and then hit the runway hard again, which resulted in the left rear wheel separating from the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that while on approach for landing, the airplane encountered a crosswind gust near the ground. The pilot attempted to abort the landing, however, he could not arrest the descent and the airplane touched down hard on the runway on all three wheels. The airplane briefly became airborne and hit the runway hard again severing the left rear wheel. As a result of the impact, there was substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was light and variable. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that the wind was calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N805M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N805M), registered now, S/N XT-912-0284, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBORNE XT912 (L) - Registry model: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-windsports-pty-edge-xt-912-l) (registry code 060003A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: XT-912-0284 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 313 - Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2019 - Departed: HHR, Hawthorne, CA - Destination: HHR, Hawthorne, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: HHR, Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne, runway 25, 4,884 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display, Airframe parachute, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: HHR ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200113004059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200113004059A), Jan 13, 2020: Airborne Windsports Pty Ltd EDGE XT-912-L, Hawthorne, CA, Substantial damage. On January 13, 2020 at approximately 12:15 p.m. pacific time. [privacy data omitted] Despie departed Hawthorne airport (hhr) in N805M (edge XT-912-L… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100813. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480372&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480373&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.