Pilot Debrief

CESSNA T206H near Billings, MT — 2016-02-08

Final reportWPR16LA073
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Date
2016-02-08
Location
Billings, MT, USA
Airport
BIL
Aircraft
CESSNA T206H
Registration
N562H
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to attain a proper flare during landing in gusting wind conditions and low-level wind shear, which resulted in a hard landing and a subsequent loss of directional control.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, just after landing, the airplane began to veer left and exited the side of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear fork and the right main landing gear strut were fractured in a manner consistent with overload. Examination of the damage to the airplane revealed that the main landing gear attachment points sustained upward crushing and the tail was bent downward; damage consistent with a hard landing. Control continuity was established, and no anomalies were revealed that would have precluded normal operation. Recorded wind information for the time of the accident indicated a 50- to 60-degree crosswind at 8 knots with gusts to 19 knots for the selected runway. Shortly before the airplane landed, a general wind shear warning was broadcast on the airport's tower control frequency. Wind shear was present in the area at altitudes below 2,000 ft above ground level (agl), and review of weather information valid at the time of the accident indicated several areas of clear air turbulence extending from the surface through 14,000 ft agl. Given the damage to the airplane, the surface wind profile, and upper level winds over the terrain, the accident flight likely encountered gusting wind conditions and low-level wind shear while landing. The airplane landed hard, damaging the landing gear, which resulted in the pilot's subsequent inability to maintain directional control.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing due to wind shear warnings.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ATC audio
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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