Piper PA-31T N171AF

Summary

On 23 February 2009 at about 23:44 local time, a Piper PA-31T registered N171AF, operated by Aero Oro LLC, was involved in an accident near Pueblo, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 February 2009 at 23:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Pueblo, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Pueblo Memorial (PUB)

Coordinates

38.2892, -104.4964

Aircraft

Piper PA-31T

Registration

N171AF

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Aero Oro LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colo. Springs → Pueblo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09LA173

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that while en route, he obtained Automatic Terminal Information Alpha that reported moderate to strong westerly and gusting winds. A Low-Level Wind Shear advisory was also in effect. He maneuvered the airplane for an extended right base to runway 26R and configured the airplane for landing. Due to the reported winds and advisory, he elected to approach 5 to 10 knots faster, or approximately 135 to 140 knots indicated airspeed. The approach and descent were normal, and he made several power changes to maintain airspeed and rates of descent consistent with the reported wind conditions. As he flared for landing, he thought that he saw something on the runway. There was a sudden loss of lift, and he adjusted the pitch slightly up to compensate. The touchdown was "unusually hard" and the airplane bounced. The airplane then became hard to control in the pitch and yaw axes, porpoising "violently" 4 or 5 times before he was able to keep it on the ground and exit the runway. Postaccident inspection revealed that the right wing was buckled, some engine mounts were broken, the cowling was wrinkled, and the engine was drooping from its mounts. Airport personnel drove the length of the runway but found no debris.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.