Summary
On April 14, 2011, a Flight Design Gmbh CTLS (N178CT) was involved in an incident near Jacksonville, FL. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
According to the student pilot, he was performing his second solo flight in the pattern. During the flare on the first landing, the airplane porpoised on the runway, resulting in the nose wheel impacting the runway three times, oscillating harder each time. After the first landing, an air traffic controller contacted the flight school to inform them of the porpoised landing. The student pilot completed three more landings, taxied back to the ramp, and exited the airplane. The first assessment of the airplane revealed no obvious damage, and it was flown two more times before another examination of the airplane by the operator revealed substantial damage to the firewall.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA11CA254. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N178CT.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
According to the student pilot, he was performing his second solo flight in the pattern. During the flare on the first landing, the airplane porpoised on the runway, resulting in the nose wheel impacting the runway three times, oscillating harder each time. After the first landing, an air traffic controller contacted the flight school to inform them of the porpoised landing. The student pilot completed three more landings, taxied back to the ramp, and exited the airplane. The first assessment of the airplane revealed no obvious damage, and it was flown two more times before another examination of the airplane by the operator revealed substantial damage to the firewall. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA11CA254