History of Flight
On March 18, 2009, at 1353 eastern daylight time, a special light sport aircraft (SLSA) Flight Design CTLS, registration N471CT, collided with terrain during an aborted landing to runway 25 at Sky Manor Airport (N40), Pittstown, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
In a written statement, the pilot reported checking the windsock prior to landing and observing winds "pretty much down the runway." After touchdown, with the engine at idle power, the left wing "lifted," and the airplane began a turn to the right that could not be corrected with rudder and aileron. The pilot added power to abort the landing, which corrected the turning tendency. However, the propeller then struck the ground, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway, striking the left wing tip and collapsing the landing gear during the accident sequence.
In a subsequent statement, the pilot added that damage to the airplane was consistent with the propeller and nose landing gear striking a runway light stanchion during the aborted landing. The pilot noted that this was the seventh landing of the day, and all previous landings were "normal."
Personnel Information
A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and pilot records revealed the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. He was issued a second-class medical certificate on May 21, 2008. The pilot reported 3,257 total hours of flight experience, including 734 hours in single engine airplanes and 9.5 hours in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent flight review was completed November 24, 2008, in a Flight Design CTLS.
Aircraft Information
According to the pilot and FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 2008 and had accrued 48.8 total aircraft hours. It was on an annual inspection program, and the most recent 25-hour inspection was completed November 19, 2008.
Meteorological Information
At 1353, weather reported at Somerset Airport (SMQ), Somerville, New Jersey, 15 miles east of the accident site, included clear skies, 10 miles visibility, and wind from 200 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Temperature was 16 degrees Celsius, dew point 6 degrees Celsius. At 1353, weather at Trenton Mercer Airport (TTN), Trenton, New Jersey, 19 miles southeast, included winds from 230 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was examined by an FAA inspector, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. The examination revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical anomalies. Photographs of the wreckage showed damage to the propeller blades, the left main landing gear, and left wing tip.
Pilot Comments on Light Sport Airplane
On March 29, 2009, the pilot responded to a Safety Board questionnaire regarding light sport airplanes. Commenting on the flight characteristics of the accident airplane, he stated, "Flight characteristics of the CTLS I would describe as normal overall, except for the landing aspects. It has seemed to be quite common to require a sideslip of the aircraft on just about all landings so as to manage descent and speed. [An] over the numbers speed of + 56 knots takes this aircraft on a float trip down the runway. Both my flying partner and I said from day one that it is a fun aircraft to fly and we really enjoyed it. But it is not an ‘easy' plane to land. The combination of a light aircraft, high wing, and a very narrow/tight landing gear causes a different characteristic and one that cannot be managed lightly."
According to a "Warning" in the manufacturer's Aircraft Operating Instructions, "Take-off and landing with crosswinds require a lot of training and experience. The greater the crosswind component, the more experience required."