Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s failure to follow the manufacturer’s go-around procedure, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The private pilot reported that during the landing roll, he had traveled about half of the distance down the 2,355 ft. runway and he realized that a go-around was going to be required. He could not recall the airplane's airspeed when the airplane touched down on the runway that was located steps from the ocean. However, he did recall that he initiated the go-around by applying full throttle, retracting the flaps to zero and rotating at 62 kts. The airplane "lifted off but did not gain altitude." The pilot lowered the nose to accelerate, but the airplane stalled abd impacted the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar and aileron.
According to the manufacturer's pilot operating handbook, the go-around procedure is:
CAUTION
To minimize control wheel forces during go-around, timely nose-down trimming is recommended to counteract nose up pitching moment as power is increased and/ or flap retraction.
Power….. Full Throttle/2700 RPM
Mixture….. Full Rich
Airspeed….. 65 KIAS
Wing Flaps….. Takeoff position after climb established
Trim….. Nose Down (to reduce control forces)
Airspeed….. Accelerate to 76 KIAS
Landing Gear….. Retract
Wing Flaps….. Retract
Cowl Flaps….. Open
Airspeed….. Accelerate to 86 KIAS
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA17CA211