Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CEN16LA231

Blaine, MN, USA

Aircraft #1

N377H

CESSNA 182Q

Analysis

The private pilot was conducting a local personal flight. The pilot reported that, while in the traffic pattern, she applied carburetor heat and extended the flaps to 10 degrees. At this point, the passenger informed her that the engine manifold air pressure had reduced to 4 inches. She added throttle, and the manifold air pressure recovered to between 14 and 15 inches. The pilot stated that she was concerned about having an engine failure and kept the airspeed at 80 knots until she was sure the airplane could reach the runway. She added that she then throttled back and that the airspeed reduced to 60 knots and, as the airplane crossed the end of the runway, she "lost all airspeed." She stated that, shortly after, the airplane descended to 8 to 10 ft above the ground and then landed hard. Based on the available information, the airplane's engine responded to the pilot's control inputs. It is likely that the pilot's concern about the engine led to her failure to maintain a proper approach airspeed during the landing, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual Information

On June 21, 2016, about 1947 central daylight time, a Cessna 182Q airplane, N377H, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 27 at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE), Blaine, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained damage to the forward fuselage and firewall. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated about 10 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that while in the traffic pattern, she applied carburetor heat and extended the flaps to 10 degrees. At this point her passenger informed her that the engine manifold pressure had reduced to 4 inches of manifold air pressure (MAP). She added throttle and the it recovered to 14-15 MAP. She stated that she was concerned about having an engine failure and kept the airspeed at 80 knots until she was sure she had the runway made. She then throttled back. The airspeed reduced to 60 knots and as the airplane crossed the end of the runway she "lost all airspeed". She stated that a short time later the airplane was 8-10 ft in the air and a hard landing was made.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper airspeed during the landing approach, which resulted in an improper flare and hard landing.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports