N215LF

On April 25, 2005, approximately 1330 central daylight time, an Aircraft Manufacturing & Development (AMD), CH-2000, single-engine airplane, N215LF, was substantially damaged during a cross-wind landing at Panhandle-Carson County Airport (T45), near Panhandle, Texas. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The tri-cycle gear equipped airplane was registered to Coyote Aviation, LLC, of Evanston, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, (AMA), near Amarillo, Texas, at 1300.

The 639-hour flight instructor reported on the Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he and a 15-hour student pilot departed AMA to practice crosswind landings at T45. The flight instructor reported the winds were from 320 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots, and runway 35 was in use. During the landing flare and with the student pilot at the controls, round out was started somewhat early (about 25 feet above the ground); the airplane dropped 2-3 feet onto the main landing gear. The aircraft bounced in to the air, and the flight instructor reported that the right rudder pedal left his foot rapidly, putting the right wing tip on to the runway. The instructor reported that the aircraft had a flying rudder and stabilator, which gave the airplane a lot of control authority, even at a low air speed.

An examination of the airplane by an Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic revealed structural damage to the wing rear spar. The right wing tip and aileron were also damaged.

At 1353, the automated weather observing system at AMA, 19 miles southwest of the accident site, reported wind from 310 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 22 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 4,200 feet, broken clouds at 6,000 feet, and broken clouds at 20,000 feet, temperature 61 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 39 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.69 inches of Mercury.