Aviation Accident Summary WPR20LA229

College Place, WA, USA

Aircraft #1

N846JM

Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2004 Bravo

Analysis

The pilot and pilot-rated passenger departed on a personal flight. During the climb out after a touchandgo landing, the airplane lost lift about 15 ft above ground level and settled back toward the runway, contacting it hard. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that he moved the flaps slightly to the upward position during the takeoff portion of the touch and go. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that as the airplane flew out of ground effect, the pilot’s retraction of the flaps before attaining climb speed created a situation in which the airplane did not have sufficient power to accelerate and climb.

Factual Information

On July 19, 2020, about 2052 Pacific daylight time, a Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam P2004 Bravo airplane, N846JM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near College Place, Washington. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after accomplishing a touch and go landing and during climb out, he realized that there was no airplane control when about 15 ft above ground level. He attempted to regain control by pushing the throttle to full on. When there were not results, he retracted the flaps slightly to the upward position. The engine seemed to be running fine, but the airplane could not establish lift. The airplane veered to the right and lost altitude. The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged when the airplane hit hard. The airplane’s flight manual states to retract the flaps after climb speed is established. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s premature retraction of the flaps which resulted in the airplane settling back onto the runway, contacting it hard, and veering off the runway.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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