Accident Details
On July 28, 2008, at approximately 1100 central daylight time, an Evektor-Aerotechnik AS airplane, registration N605EV, was substantially damaged during a landing accident at Maple Lake Municipal Airport, near Maple Lake, Minnesota. The airplane was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 on a local instructional flight. A flight plan was not filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Flight Narrative
The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that the purpose of the flight was to provide instruction on short and soft field takeoffs and landings. The CFI briefed the student on these maneuvers, including a discussion about the desired flare where they "should be able to reduce the power to idle and sink through the ground effect to touchdown on the runway with minimal float." The final approach was flown at 55 knots as per the operating instructions.
During the landing, the student flared early, about 30 feet above the runway, and reduced power to idle. The student then commented about slowing down. Before the CFI realized how slow they had gotten, the stall horn sounded. The CFI attempted to add full power, but the airplane stalled and impacted the runway. The CFI estimated they were 15 feet above the runway at that point. After the airplane bounced, the CFI decided to keep the power in to soften the second landing. The airplane then veered off the right side of the runway. The CFI decided to maintain full power and continue the go-around, while also considering keeping the nose wheel off the ground since they were headed for a field. With back pressure applied, the airplane inadvertently entered a stall. The CFI estimated that "the airplane stalled a total of three times prior to it striking the ground."
Aircraft and Crew Information
The airplane was an Evektor-Aerotechnik AS, commonly known as a Sportstar. The pilot was a certified flight instructor, and the dual student pilot was also on board. Both occupants reported no injuries. The CFI reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Aftermath
The airplane sustained substantial damage. The CFI commented that he should have had more training on the flight characteristics of the airplane. He noted that "The Sportstar is a light airplane with little mass to maintain momentum, or to recover momentum should a loss of airspeed occur. If the airplane stalls and the nose is lowered to regain airspeed, it takes much longer to regain the airspeed needed to break the stall. Power is the critical ingredient to breaking the stall in a light airplane."