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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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June 17, 2023 · Volato 400 · PR-ZVL

Dublin, GA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 17, 2023
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Dublin, GA
Aircraft
Volato 400 (2013)
Tail Number
PR-ZVL
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA23LA291

The pilot reported that upon returning from a local flight, during the landing flare, he noticed the airplane was still sinking so he “began pulling back on the stick.” The airplane continued to sink, and the pilot added partial power, but the sink rate was not arrested, and the airplane impacted the ground, about 10 ft before the runway threshold. Upon impact with the ground, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid about 1,000 ft down the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that he felt he used full elevator aft but did not think he was getting full authority and that an autopilot servo bracket may have interfered with the flight control. The safety pilot on board reported that the pilot performed a flight control check before the departure with no anomalies noted. Additionally, during a postaccident examination of the flight controls, the FAA inspector found the autopilot servo bracket was loose on the elevator control tube and a flight control check found the bracket did not restrict the aft movement of the elevator. The postaccident examination otherwise found no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a runway undershoot and a hard landing, which substantially damaged the airplane’s firewall.

Full Narrative

The pilot reported that upon returning from a local flight, during the landing flare, he noticed the airplane was still sinking so he “began pulling back on the stick.” The airplane continued to sink, and the pilot added partial power, but the sink rate was not arrested, and the airplane impacted the ground, about 10 ft before the runway threshold. Upon impact with the ground, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid about 1,000 ft down the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that he felt he used full elevator aft but did not think he was getting full authority and that an autopilot servo bracket may have interfered with the flight control. The safety pilot on board reported that the pilot performed a flight control check before the departure with no anomalies noted. Additionally, during a postaccident examination of the flight controls, the FAA inspector found the autopilot servo bracket was loose on the elevator control tube and a flight control check found the bracket did not restrict the aft movement of the elevator. The postaccident examination otherwise found no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:45 EDT
Nearest AirportW H 'Bud' Barron (0.2nm SSE)
Runway2
Runway Length6501 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedUnknown
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftVolato 400
Tail NumberPR-ZVL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · YIO-390-EXP · Reciprocating · 210
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · Basc · None
Crew 2None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter29.95 inHg
Observation Time12:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data