Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary NYC94LA169

AKRON, OH, USA

Aircraft #1

N4327V

DONALD E. KOVOL QUICKIE 2

Analysis

THIS WAS THE INITIAL TEST FLIGHT FOR THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT IN TYPE. THE PILOT INTENDED TO LIFT OFF AND THEN LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE RUNWAY AFTER 5 TO 10 SECONDS OF FLIGHT. THE TAKEOFF WAS UNEVENTFUL. WHEN THE PILOT REDUCED POWER TO LAND, THE AIRPLANE SETTLED FASTER THAN THE PILOT EXPECTED. IN A WRITTEN REPORT HE SAID, 'TOO SLOW FOR LANDING - DROPPED ONTO RUNWAY APPROX 8 FEET ALTITUDE.' THE RIGHT CANARD/LANDING GEAR WAS FRACTURED. THE PROPELLER CONTACTED THE RUNWAY.

Factual Information

On September 4, 1994, at 1905 eastern daylight time, a Quickie 2, N4327V, owned and operated by Mr. Donald E. Kovol, of Stow, Ohio, made a hard landing at the Akron-Fulton County Airport, Akron, Ohio. The airplane received substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported this was the initial test flight of the airplane. The plan was to become airborne, and then touchdown on the runway after 5 to 10 seconds of flight. The airplane became airborne on runway 25 without incident, however, when he retarded the power to land, the airplane settled faster than he expected. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot said, "... Too slow for landing - dropped onto runway from approx 8 feet altitude." The right canard/landing gear was fractured, and the propeller contacted the runway. The airplane stopped on the runway. The pilot reported the winds as 4 knots and straight down the runway. In the NTSB Accident Report From, the private pilot reported his total time as 96 hours with no time in the Quickie 2. He had 6 hours in the preceding 90 days, all in a Cessna 172. He had ground taxied the airplane for 14 hours.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADEQUATE FLARE AND A HARD LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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