Pilot Debrief

Soneral L2 near Minot, ND — 2021-10-03

Final reportCEN22LA007
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Date
2021-10-03
Location
Minot, ND, USA
Airport
MOT
Aircraft
Soneral L2
Registration
N9115Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Go-around

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack on final landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inexperience with the airplane’s performance, and an oil film on the canopy that obscured the pilot’s visibility.

NTSB narrative

The pilot prepared for his first flight in the recently acquired airplane, taxied to the runway, and took off. As the airplane climbed into the traffic pattern, the pilot noticed that the engine temperature was high, just under redline. He reduced engine power and the temperature came back to normal. On final approach, he decided that the approach was not as stable as he would have liked so he decided to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the engine did not seem to have to have much power, and the pilot saw what appeared to be engine oil on the windscreen which obscured his visibility. The pilot decided to land the airplane as soon as possible and executed an abbreviated approach. Just before touchdown on the runway, the airplane stalled and bounced on the runway. The airplane veered off the runway, resulting to structural damage to the forward part of the fuselage and empennage. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any anomalies that could have contributed to the reported partial loss of engine power; however, there was a film of oil on the engine cowl and canopy, which would have obscured the pilot’s forward visibility. It was the pilot’s first flight in the airplane, and he was not familiar with its characteristics and performance. It is likely that, while executing an abbreviated approach, the pilot failed to maintain the proper airspeed, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and the airplane experiencing an aerodynamic stall and subsequent hard landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the flight after noticing high engine temperature.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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