Accident Summary
The pilot was attempting a short field landing. During the approach, the pilot allowed the airspeed to dissipate too soon, causing the airplane to enter a stall/mush condition. The airplane then landed hard, and the force of the landing bent the engine mounts and broke the wings. The pilot reported that no mechanical problems had been experienced with the aircraft.
Vortex Generators and Speed Instructions
The airplane was equipped with vortex generators on the wings and vertical stabilizer. According to the supplemental type certificate (STC) developer, these generators reduce the stall, approach, and Vmca airspeeds by at least 10 knots. However, the STC developer noted that the various reference speed reductions were never approved for inclusion as a supplement to the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). Therefore, pilots were supposed to use the original speeds and limitations in the POH.
Pilot's Actions and Statement
The pilot said that he was using an approach speed derived from a sales brochure from the STC maker, rather than the POH speeds. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by maintaining greater speed.