Summary
On September 10, 2011, a Aero Sp Z O O AT-4 LSA (N334RA) was involved in an incident near San Diego, CA. 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 pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain control during an attempted go-around.
According to the pilot's written statement, the approach for landing was normal. After the airplane crossed the runway numbers, the pilot initiated the flare. The pilot said that when the airplane was about 3 feet above the runway, it "lost all lift," and the pilot could not prevent a hard landing. The airplane bounced, and while airborne again, the pilot applied power to prevent a second hard landing, but the airplane began to weather vane to the left. The airplane bounced a second time, and a tower controller instructed the pilot to go-around. The pilot applied full power, the airplane yawed further to the left, and the left wing struck the ground.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR11CA445. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N334RA.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and failure to maintain control during an attempted go-around.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to the pilot's written statement, the approach for landing was normal. After the airplane crossed the runway numbers, the pilot initiated the flare. The pilot said that when the airplane was about 3 feet above the runway, it "lost all lift," and the pilot could not prevent a hard landing. The airplane bounced, and while airborne again, the pilot applied power to prevent a second hard landing, but the airplane began to weather vane to the left. The airplane bounced a second time, and a tower controller instructed the pilot to go-around. The pilot applied full power, the airplane yawed further to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. The nose and right main landing gear collapsed, the airplane slid to a stop, and the engine was stopped by the propeller striking the ground. The pilot attributed the loss of lift to a wind gust, and the loss of directional control to the slow speed of the airplane, and the high P-factor and torque from full engine power. The pilot reported that he was landing to the west, and that the winds were reported as being from the southwest at 10 knots, with no gusts.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR11CA445