Pilot Debrief

ERCOUPE 415-C near Parkersburg, WV — 2012-10-04

Final reportERA13LA007
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Date
2012-10-04
Location
Parkersburg, WV, USA
Airport
PKB
Aircraft
ERCOUPE 415-C
Registration
N93606
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The first leg of the student pilot's planned solo cross-country flight was uneventful until he attempted to land at his destination airport. During the flare, as the airplane began to settle, he reduced power and the airplane "dropped," touched down on the main landing gear, then the nose landing gear, and then "hopped." The airplane then touched down again and traveled about 50 feet before the nosewheel separated, and the airplane slid to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed that the two halves of the nosewheel assembly had separated from each other and multiple fractures existed in both halves. Further examination of the airplane also revealed that the firewall and fuselage had incurred substantial damage. The airplane was manufactured in 1946, and the pilot stated that he believed that the nosewheel assembly might have failed due to fatigue during the landing. However, examination of the nosewheel assembly by the NTSB's Materials Laboratory revealed that the damage was consistent with an overload event.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have executed a go-around instead of attempting to land.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents15

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