N910RKKESSINGER ROGER L RANS COYOTE2016-08-12 NTSB Accident Report

Substantial
Serious

KESSINGER ROGER L RANS COYOTES/N: 296

Summary

On August 12, 2016, a Kessinger Roger L RANS COYOTE (N910RK) was involved in an accident near London, KY. 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 student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees during an attempted go-around.

After a 1 hour local flight where he explored the airplane's stall characteristics, the student pilot/owner of the experimental light sport airplane returned to his home airport to practice touch-and-go landings. The pilot "bounced" the airplane during the final landing attempt, and while recovering applied full power to the engine for a go around. The pilot stated that the airplane then banked to the right as a result of the counterclockwise rotating-engine's "p factor effect," and began heading toward a hangar located off the right side of the runway. Due to the airplane's low altitude and airspeed, the pilot elected to continue the right turn to avoid colliding with the hangar, and once clear of it, tried to climb the airplane to clear an approaching tree line.

This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA16CA290. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N910RK.

Accident Details

Date
Friday, August 12, 2016
NTSB Number
ERA16CA290
Location
London, KY
Event ID
20160815X34315
Coordinates
37.087776, -84.075279
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees during an attempted go-around.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
KESSINGER ROGER L
Serial Number
296
Engine Type
None
Year Built
2007
Model / ICAO
RANS COYOTEFEST
No. of Engines
0

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
COOPER TOM
Address
183 COOPER HILL LN
Status
Deregistered
City
KEAVY
State / Zip Code
KY 40737-2558
Country
United States

Analysis

After a 1 hour local flight where he explored the airplane's stall characteristics, the student pilot/owner of the experimental light sport airplane returned to his home airport to practice touch-and-go landings. The pilot "bounced" the airplane during the final landing attempt, and while recovering applied full power to the engine for a go around. The pilot stated that the airplane then banked to the right as a result of the counterclockwise rotating-engine's "p factor effect," and began heading toward a hangar located off the right side of the runway. Due to the airplane's low altitude and airspeed, the pilot elected to continue the right turn to avoid colliding with the hangar, and once clear of it, tried to climb the airplane to clear an approaching tree line. The pilot was unsuccessful in this attempt and the airplane's right wing struck one of the trees. The airplane then impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe and seriously injuring the pilot.The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane or its engine that would have precluded normal operation. He further attributed the loss of control during the go around attempt to his unfamiliarity with the flight characteristics of the counter clockwise rotation of the airplane's two-stroke engine, and his lack of flight experience in experimental light sport airplanes.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA16CA290