Summary
On July 31, 2008, a Aero Commander 200D (N260M) was involved in an accident near Tecumseh, MI. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot flaring too high, and his inadvertent pilot-induced oscillation during the landing flare/touchdown. Contributing to the accident was the collapse of the nose landing gear.
The pilot reported that the landing approach was uneventful up to the flare and touchdown. He increased engine power just prior to landing because he thought the airplane was slow. He rounded-out and flared higher than normal, and then the airplane "hit hard" on all three landing gear. The airplane began to porpoise between the nose and main landing gear, but eventually settled onto all three landing gear. The airplane then made an uncommanded left swerve that the pilot was unable to counteract. The nose landing gear separated from the airplane when the airplane nose impacted a non-breakaway steel runway light. The airplane then nosed over in the grass easement off the left side of the runway.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CHI08CA225. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N260M.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot flaring too high, and his inadvertent pilot-induced oscillation during the landing flare/touchdown. Contributing to the accident was the collapse of the nose landing gear.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that the landing approach was uneventful up to the flare and touchdown. He increased engine power just prior to landing because he thought the airplane was slow. He rounded-out and flared higher than normal, and then the airplane "hit hard" on all three landing gear. The airplane began to porpoise between the nose and main landing gear, but eventually settled onto all three landing gear. The airplane then made an uncommanded left swerve that the pilot was unable to counteract. The nose landing gear separated from the airplane when the airplane nose impacted a non-breakaway steel runway light. The airplane then nosed over in the grass easement off the left side of the runway. The cabin roof, engine firewall, rudder, and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot was seriously injured with a broken neck. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI08CA225