Cirrus SR 20 N 5338S Landing Incident at Ústí nad Orlicí

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On July 22, 2004, a Cirrus SR 20 with registration N 5338S was damaged during a landing at Ústí nad Orlicí (LKUO). The aircraft, manufactured by Cirrus Design Corp. in the United States, was operated by a Dutch pilot. The incident occurred at 18:25 UTC and was classified as an aviation accident, with no injuries reported to the crew. ## Flight Progression and Landing Sequence The pilot departed from Pardubice (LKPD) at 18:06 UTC, flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to Ústí nad Orlicí. Approaching from the west, the pilot entered the second right-hand turn of the traffic pattern for Runway 32. The landing was executed on the southeastern half of the grass runway at a speed of 75 knots. The aircraft initially touched down on the right main wheel, followed by a bounce and a nose-up pitch. The pilot's corrective action, combined with forward inertia, caused the rotating propeller to strike the grassy surface. ## Damage Assessment and Environmental Conditions The most significant damage occurred to the nose gear leg at the wheel fork transition and the composite nose gear cover. Propeller blades showed soil marks and minor abrasions 80 to 100 mm from the tips. Post-incident measurements indicated the propeller tips were 154 mm from the ground, which was 49 mm below the prescribed 203 mm clearance for maximum takeoff weight. At the time of the landing, the airport surface was wet due to a light rain shower that lasted from 18:22 to 18:32 UTC. ## Investigation Findings and Conclusions The investigation determined that the pilot held a valid FAA Private Pilot License and a Class 1 medical certificate, with approximately 340 total flight hours and 80 hours on the Cirrus SR 20. The aircraft's airworthiness and insurance were valid, and its technical condition was found to be suitable for the flight. The investigation concluded that the pilot attempted to shorten the landing time to take advantage of a gap between local rain showers. This created time pressure, which led to a reduced focus on landing quality and resulted in the landing being performed at a higher-than-ideal speed. No safety recommendations were issued as a result of the investigation.