# NTSB WPR21LA138: Burg Frederick S ZEN CH701, N43442, Shepherd, MT, March 17, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 17, 2021, 11:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Shepherd, MT · 18 miles north of Billings, Montana - Coordinates: 46.082263, -108.48105 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0823&lon=-108.4810&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102787 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102787/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102787 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA138 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unstable approach, and improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Burg Frederick S ZEN CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05624QO), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Burg Frederick S ZEN CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05624QO), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Burg Frederick S ZEN CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=05624QO), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Burg Frederick S ZEN CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05624QO), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Burg Frederick S ZEN CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05624QO), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Burg Frederick S ZEN CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05624QO), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on final approach to land, the descent was too fast, and he applied power to slow the descent rate. The main landing gear touched down on the runway surface and the airplane bounced with a nose high attitude. While pitching the airplane forward to correct, he misjudged the height above the runway, the propeller impacted the runway surface and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43442](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43442-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 7-6471, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BURG FREDERICK S ZEN CH701 - Registry model: [Burg Frederick S ZEN CH701](https://openairdocs.org/model/burg-frederick-s-zen-ch701) (registry code 05624QO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7-6471 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 513 - Engines: ROTAX 912 ULS 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert J Guilfoyle Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 2, 2020, 21 hours before - Departed: KRPX, Roundup, MT - Destination: PVT, Shepherd, MT - Airport: PVT, Owner's private airstrip, runway N/A, 1,005 × 45 ft, dirt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 11, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 865 total, 56 in this make and model, 786 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: BIL, 21 nm away ## 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 20210317002619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210317002619A), Mar 17, 2021: Burg Frederick S ZEN CH701, Shepherd, MT, Substantial damage. The PIC, [privacy data omitted], of N43442 did six "stop and go" landings on his landing strip with no issues. He went and flew around for an hour and came… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102787. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12078805&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA138%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12077890&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20photo-Rel.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.