Pilot Debrief

NORTH WING UUM INC SPORT X2-N near Boulder City, NV — 2017-04-30

Final reportGAA17CA250
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Date
2017-04-30
Location
Boulder City, NV, USA
Aircraft
NORTH WING UUM INC SPORT X2-N
Registration
N366DN
Category
Trike
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The student pilot’s exceedance of the weight-shift-control aircraft’s critical angle of attack and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action and failure to maintain the proper airspeed after encountering localized turbulence during approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot of the weight-shift-control aircraft reported that, while practicing touch-and-go landings on a dried lake bed, the flight instructor was controlling the throttle inputs, and she "controlled the wing." She added that, just before the accident, she observed three dust devils to the east and that, during a final pass near the north end of the lake bed, they came upon "strong localized turbulence." The aircraft impacted the ground and rolled to the left. The flight instructor reported that, during the turbulence encounter "about 4-6 ft" above the ground, the "wing stalled," which resulted in a "hard nose wheel landing." The weight-shift-control aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the weigh-shift-control aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the wind was light and variable and that the temperature was 70°F at the accident location. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 6 miles northeast of the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was calm, and the temperature was 64°F.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Avoiding the area with strong localized turbulence could have prevented the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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