On October 22, 2013, a TECNAM P92 EA operated by Ocean Air Flight Services, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Watsonville, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that the right rudder became unresponsive in the traffic pattern. After a long touchdown, directional control was lost, the airplane departed the runway, and the front landing gear collapsed. Postaccident inspection found no mechanical issues.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that while flying in the traffic pattern, the airplane's right rudder stopped responding. The pilot aligned the aircraft with the runway for landing, but the touchdown occurred long. During the landing roll, directional control was lost and the airplane departed the runway, continuing through grass and dirt for approximately 500 feet. The front main landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on its nose.
Damage Assessment
The engine's firewall and the tube frame located behind the firewall sustained substantial damage.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Contributing factors
Causes
PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained