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August 18, 2011 · Juneau Zenith Aircraft STOL CH-701 · N701BZ

Snohomish, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 18, 2011
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Snohomish, WA
Aircraft
Juneau Zenith Aircraft STOL CH-701
Tail Number
N701BZ
Operator
Juneau Tim W
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR11LA405

The sport pilot reported that he was relocating the experimental amateur-built airplane to his short home airstrip, which was bordered by trees, grapevines, and a pond. He performed three precautionary approaches to the runway in order to assess the wind conditions, and on the final approach elected to land. The airplane made contact with the runway short of his intended touchdown point; it landed hard and bounced, collapsing the nose landing gear. He said he flared the airplane early, prior to touchdown, and it subsequently stalled about 5 feet above the ground. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and left wing spar during the accident sequence. The accident flight was the first time he had landed at the airstrip.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C

Full Narrative

On August 18, 2011, about 1530 Pacific daylight time, a Juneau (Zenith Aircraft Company) STOL CH-701, N701BZ, landed hard at a private grass airstrip near Snohomish, Washington. The owner/builder was operating the experimental amateur-built airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The sport pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and left wing spar during the accident sequence. The flight departed Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington, about 1500. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he was relocating the airplane to his home airstrip, and that trees, grapevines, and a pond bordered the intended landing area. He performed three precautionary approaches to the east runway in order to assess the wind conditions, and on the final approach elected to land. The airplane made contact with the ground about 60 feet short of his intended touchdown point; it landed hard and bounced, collapsing the nose landing gear. He reported that he flared the airplane early prior to touchdown, and it subsequently stalled about 5 feet above the ground. The pilot stated that this was the first time he had landed at the airstrip, which was about 500 feet long. According to Zenith Aircraft Company, the airplane has a ground roll landing distance of between 80 and 140 feet. The airplane's total time since manufacture was 35 flight hours, and as such, it had not yet completed its 40 hours of Phase One experimental operating limitations. The pilot reported a total flight experience of 126 hours, 35 of which were in the accident airplane. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:30 PDT
Nearest AirportSnohomish Private Airstrip (0nm)
Runway27
Runway Length500 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftJuneau Zenith Aircraft STOL CH-701
Tail NumberN701BZ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJuneau Tim W
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 912ULS · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 66 · Sprt · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 11000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 54
Altimeter30.15 inHg
Observation Time22:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data