Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 19, 2015, about 1335 central daylight time, a Vans RV-9A, N142DD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Kings Land O' Lakes Airport (LNL), Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to details provided by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the airplane landed hard on the grass runway and bounced twice. After the second bounce, the nose gear fork embedded into the grass. The nose landing gear leg folded under the cowling. The propeller spinner dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The vertical stabilizer and main spar sustained substantial damage.
The pilot reported to the FAA inspectors that the airplane hit uneven surface during the landing and that caused the nose landing gear to collapse. A local mechanic drove the runway in his vehicle and advised the FAA inspectors there were no irregularities in the surface in the area of the nose gear collapse.
The NTSB did not receive a completed "Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report" from the pilot.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN15LA351