Pilot Debrief

AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD EDGE XT-912-L near Albuquerque, NM — 2018-07-24

Final reportGAA18CA436
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Date
2018-07-24
Location
Albuquerque, NM, USA
Airport
AEG
Aircraft
AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD EDGE XT-912-L
Registration
N824PB
Category
Trike
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the weight-shift-control aircraft reported that, during a flight review, while practicing touch-and-go landings, the flight instructor and pilot were both on the flight controls to allow the pilot to mirror the instructor's movements. During the landing flare, the pilot felt the airspeed was too high, and the aircraft touched down and veered left. The instructor and pilot both tried to bring the aircraft under control, but the aircraft began to "waddle" and came to rest on its right side. The instructor reported that, during the flight, he observed the pilot was tense and uncomfortable and during the first landing, the airspeed was too low. He instructed him to increase the airspeed and to practice stabilized approaches. During the accident landing roll, the aircraft was not aligned with the center of the runway and heading left. The pilot corrected to the right but then turned back to the left. The aircraft came to rest on its right side. The weight-shift-control aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the weight-shift-control aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 13 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 20° at 8 knots. The weight-shift-control aircraft landed on runway 35.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the landing when airspeed felt too high.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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