5 Feb 2012: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S-2R — Valley Air, LLC.

5 Feb 2012: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S-2R — Valley Air, LLC.

No fatalities • Yellow Pine, ID, United States

Probable cause

The pilot did not reduce the airplane’s descent rate prior to the landing flare/touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

While landing at a remote snow-covered airstrip with about 350 gallons of fluid in the airplane's hopper, the pilot touched down at too great of a descent rate. The airplane bounced back into the air, and then touched down again on the packed snow surface. As the airplane began to slow and the airplane's weight began to be transferred from the wings to the landing gear, one main landing gear attach fitting, which had been damaged during the initial hard touchdown, allowed its associated gear leg to partially collapse. The partial collapse of the landing gear resulted in the airplane veering to the right, whereupon the right wing impacted the snow bank along the side of the runway.

Contributing factors

  • cause Incorrect use/operation
  • cause Pilot

Conditions

Weather
VMC, vis 10sm

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