N311ER

Substantial
None

Diamond DA42S/N: 42.N212

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
NTSB Number
ERA20CA143
Location
Palm Coast, FL
Event ID
20200401X12025
Coordinates
29.465278, -81.207778
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain airplane control during a simulated engine failure landing and subsequent attempted go-around in gusting crosswind conditions and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
DIAMOND
Serial Number
42.N212
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2016
Model / ICAO
DA42DA42
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Multi Engine
No. of Engines
2
Seats
4
FAA Model
DA 42 NG

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY INC
Address
600 S CLYDE MORRIS BLVD
City
DAYTONA BEACH
State / Zip Code
FL 32114-3966
Country
United States

Analysis

The flight instructor of the multi-engine airplane reported that, the student pilot was practicing a simulated in-flight engine failure to a landing. The left engine's was set to about 12% power, simulating a feathered propeller engine failure. While on finial approach to land, the airplane started to drift to the right of the runway, and the student pilot reported that he was having difficulty controlling the airplane during the single engine approach due to the strong wind that prevailed. The instructor reported that he told the student to use more left rudder, but the airplane continued to drift right. The student decided to abort the landing and initiated a go-around by advancing both engines to full power. During the go-around, the airplane drifted to left, the instructor took the flight controls and applied full right rudder. The airplane continued drifting to the left, descended, impacted vegetation, and the landing gear collapsed. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and empennage.

At the time of the accident a wind from 40 degrees right of the runway centerline at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots prevailed. The calculated crosswind component was from the right at between 6 and 10 knots.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA20CA143