Pilot Debrief

FUNK RALPH Velocity XLRG near Atlanta, GA — 2014-10-02

Final reportERA15IA009
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Date
2014-10-02
Location
Atlanta, GA, USA
Airport
RYY
Aircraft
FUNK RALPH Velocity XLRG
Registration
N301EF
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a hard landing, which resulted in the fracture of the nose landing gear.

NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to perform three takeoffs and landings at night. The pilot stated that the first takeoff and landing was uneventful and that, at touchdown, he used aerodynamic braking to slow the airplane by keeping its nose off the runway as long as possible. He added that the second landing was faster, that more runway was used, and that the nose landing gear (NLG) touched down "harder" than during the first landing. After the NLG touched down, the airplane pulled right and developed a shimmy. The pilot subsequently lost directional control of the airplane, and the NLG collapsed. Examination of the fracture surfaces on the NLG revealed features consistent with ductile overstress fracture. The overall fracture pattern was consistent with fracture under a lateral bending load.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have adjusted approach speed to prevent hard landing.

NTSB coding

  • Hard landing · Landing-flare/touchdown

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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