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October 12, 2001 · Beech BE-55-T42A · N44RA

Raleigh, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 12, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Raleigh, NC
Aircraft
Beech BE-55-T42A
Tail Number
N44RA
Operator
Ram Air Freight
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL02LA006

During landing, the airplane bounced three times on the nosewheel with each successive bounce worst than the previous one. The pilot then added power and completed the landing. The airplane sustained damage to the nose gear, blade tips of the left propeller, left engine mount, and the fuselage forward of the cabin door. No mechanical problems were noted during the post-crash airframe examination, nor did the pilot report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the landing.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper flare, and improper recovery from a bounced landing.

Full Narrative

On October 11, 2001, at 2030 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE-55-T42A, N44RA, registered to Bellefonte, Inc., of Durham, North Carolina, bounced three times on the nosewheel during landing at Raleigh-Durham International airport in Raleigh, North Carolina. The repositioning flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an IFR flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Charlotte-Douglas International airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, at 1930. According to the pilot, while conducting a visual approach to runway 23R, "on short final the power was reduced and the nosewheel hit first." He stated that "this was the first of three bounces each worse than the last." The pilot added power to complete the landing and taxied the airplane to the tie-down area. The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction nor did the pilot report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the attempted landing. Further examination of the airplane showed that the propeller blade tips of the left propeller and the nose gear had sustained damage. The left engine mount was bent, the fuselage forward of the cabin door showed wrinkling that extended from the windscreen down both sides of the fuselage, and the nose was displaced upward.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:30 EDT
Nearest AirportRaleigh-Durham International (0nm SW)
Runway23R
Runway Length10000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech BE-55-T42A
Tail NumberN44RA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRam Air Freight
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-470-L · Reciprocating · 265 | Continental · IO-470-L · Reciprocating · 265
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 33 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind150° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 55
Altimeter30.21 inHg
Observation Time00:25
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data