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September 4, 2023 · Van S Aircraft RV-12 Is · N321BT

Crystal, MN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 4, 2023
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Crystal, MN
Aircraft
Van S Aircraft RV-12 Is (2022)
Tail Number
N321BT
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN23LA398

The pilot was landing the light-sport airplane on the runway when it bounced two times. The nose gear collapsed, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway in a nose-down attitude. The two occupants were able to exit the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. A postaccident metallurgical examination of the fractured nose landing gear strut revealed features consistent with ductile overstress fracture. There was no evidence of any pre-existing damage to the nose landing gear strut. It is likely the pilot did not attain a proper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane bouncing twice and subsequently sustaining an overstress fracture of the nose landing strut.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and an overstress fracture of the nose landing gear strut.

Full Narrative

On September 3, 2023, about 1900 central daylight time, a Van’s Aircraft RV-12iS airplane, N321BT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Crystal, Minnesota. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger sustained no injury. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The light-sport airplane departed from the Major Gilbert Field Airport (4R5), La Pointe, Wisconsin, about 1725, for the cross-country flight. The intended destination was the Crystal Airport (MIC), Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the landing at MIC, the airplane touched down on runway 24R, which was a dry asphalt runway, and bounced two times. The nose gear collapsed, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway in a nose-down attitude. The two occupants were able to exit the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. A postaccident metallurgical examination of the fractured nose landing gear strut revealed features consistent with ductile overstress fracture. There was no evidence of any pre-existing damage to the nose landing gear strut. The Federal Aviation Administration has published the Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), which discusses bounced landings and states in part: Since a bounce occurs when the airplane makes contact with the ground before the proper touchdown attitude is attained, it is almost invariably accompanied by the application of excessive back-elevator pressure. This is usually the result of the pilot realizing too late that the airplane is not in the proper attitude and attempting to establish it just as the second touchdown occurs.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 CDT
Nearest AirportCRYSTAL (0nm NNE)
Runway06L/
Runway Length2500 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftVan S Aircraft RV-12 Is
Tail NumberN321BT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax Aircraft Engines · 912iS · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 46 · Sprt · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter29.71 inHg
Observation Time19:06
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data