BEECH F35 near Syracuse, NY — 2010-12-24

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing with airframe structural icing, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s continued flight into known icing conditions.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was receiving vectors for an instrument approach when the controller advised of reported icing conditions and assigned the pilot an altitude that would keep the flight out of the icing levels; however, the pilot requested and received clearance for an altitude within those reported icing levels. During the approach, the pilot saw a trace of ice accumulating on the windshield and continued the approach to the runway. The pilot stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane’s nose landing gear broke off, and the airplane to skidded off the runway into the snow. Examination of the runway revealed that the skid marks started about 300 feet from the beginning of the runway and led off the runway. The pilot initially stated that the nose landing gear malfunctioned but later stated that the icing possibly caused the airplane to stall. An examination of the airplane wreckage immediately after the accident confirmed that ice had built up on the leading edge of the airplane’s wings. Examination of the nose landing gear revealed that the chrome piston strut section had separated in an aft direction in overload, just below the piston strut housing. There was no evidence of a mechanical malfunction of the nose landing gear. The airplane was not certified for flight in known icing conditions.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Mechanical failure

First missed decision gate

Pilot could have chosen to avoid landing in icing conditions.

NTSB coding

• Hard landing · Landing-flare/touchdown
• Decision Making / Judgment

Evidence available

• ATC audio
• Photos
• 9 docket documents

Docket documents9

• Reports from Federal Agencies: Excerpts from the FAA ATC Transcript.atc
• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form
• Pilot's Statement to FAA Inspector.interview
• Witness Statementinterview
• Miscellaneous: Excerpt of Pilot's Flight Logbook.other
• Photo 1) View of the Airplane's Nacelle and Left wing Section. Note the Ice Build up on the Wing's Leading Edge. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration.photos
• Photo 2) View of the Airplane's Fuselage and Right Wing Section. Note the Ice Build up on the leading Edge of the Wing. Photo Provide by the Federal Aviation Administration.photos
• Photo 3) View of the Separated Nose Wheel Assembly in the Snow. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviaiton Administration.photos
• Photo 4) Close up View of the Lower Nose Gear Struct Section. Note the Bend Buckle Just Below the Overload Separation Damage. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration.photos

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