ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 200898
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| Date: | Saturday 4 November 2017 |
| Time: | 17:28 |
| Type: |  Beechcraft V35B Bonanza |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N777PH |
| MSN: | D-9544 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1973 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1927 hours |
| Engine model: | Continental IO-520-BA10 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Alva Regional Airport (KAVK), Alva, OK -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Alva Regional Airport (KAVK) |
| Alva Regional Airport (KAVK) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The private pilot had recently purchased the Bonanza airplane, which he and an experienced flight instructor were using to conduct his first training flight in a Bonanza. During a visual approach, the engine's left cowling opened. According to the pilot, who initially survived the accident, the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane. Based on video from home surveillance cameras, the descent rate for the approach increased to about 1,000 ft per minute about 100 ft above ground level. About 7 seconds later, the airplane impacted trees and a power line located 1/2 mile from the runway threshold.
The airplane was one of three Bonanza airplanes modified with a Robertson Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) system. The flight characteristics for this modification included a strong pitch-down force while extending the flap from 15° to 30° position, which is greater than in Bonanzas without this STOL system. The investigation could not determine if the pilot or flight instructor was aware of this unique flight characteristic, which was not described in the STOL certification information.
The pilot had compiled a list of airplane discrepancies, which included "cowling latch - pilot's side rear spring." It is likely a latch for the left engine cowling opened in flight because it was not properly secured during the preflight. The flight instructor and pilot were likely distracted by the open engine cowling and did not expect the strong pitch-down force during flap extension, which resulted in a high descent rate on short final.
Probable Cause: The flight instructor's and pilot's failure to recognize that a high descent rate had developed on short final, likely due to their distraction by an open engine cowling, and the unexpected strong pitch-down force during flap extension due to the installation in the airplane of a Short Takeoff and Landing system.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
https://fr.flightaware.com/resources/registration/N777PH
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 05-Nov-2017 05:45 | Geno | Added |
| 05-Nov-2017 05:49 | Geno | Updated [Departure airport, Source] |
| 05-Nov-2017 12:08 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Time, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative] |
| 06-Nov-2017 01:14 | Geno | Updated [Source] |
| 06-Nov-2017 17:17 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source] |
| 06-Nov-2017 17:20 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Source] |
| 07-Nov-2017 19:31 | gerard57 | Updated [Total fatalities, Narrative] |
| 01-Jun-2019 07:29 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ] |
| 01-Jun-2019 19:14 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Photo] |
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