MAULE M-5-210C near Verona, NY — 2013-08-11

Probable cause

The pilot’s delay in applying power after a bounced landing, resulting in collision with terrain during a go-around.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated after takeoff while en route to the destination airport he elected to fly to a private airstrip (Bates Field) located in rolling farmland. He lined up onto base leg for landing to the northwest on the upslope grass runway, and turned onto final approach. With 40 degrees of flaps extended, he identified the intended touchdown point, flared, and then climbed to attain the intended touchdown point. He landed, “but too hard and bounced up…,” touched down on the runway, and drifted off the runway into 6 to 8 inch high grass. He added power to abort the landing but impacted a knoll at the top of a crest on a hill, then continued climbing. While safely airborne he assessed the condition of the airplane noting the pilot and co-pilot doors were ajar, but did not find any other damage. He flew over the private airstrip and did not observe any damage then elected to proceed to his destination airport, where he landed uneventfully. While taxiing after landing he noticed the left landing gear was out of position. He further stated there was no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction that caused the hard landing. Inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage and distortion to structural tubing in the cockpit, and wrinkles in the fabric adjacent to the left main landing gear.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Loss of control

First missed decision gate

Pilot could have aborted landing earlier to avoid hard landing and subsequent issues.

NTSB coding

• Hard landing · Landing-flare/touchdown
• Delayed Action

Evidence available

• Photos
• 5 docket documents

Docket documents5

• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form
• Photo 1. Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. Left Rear Quartering View of the Left Side of the Fuselage and Cockpit. Note the Wrinkles in the Fabric near the Left Main Landing Gear.photos
• Photo 2. Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View of the Cockpit Noting Damage to Tubing on the Left Side of the Aircraft.photos
• Photo 3. Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Depicting the Distortion and Damaged Fuselage Tubing on the Left Side of the Cockpit.photos
• Weather Reports and Recordsreport

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