Allen Raymond H LANCAIR LEGACY N385AS

Summary

On 25 December 2010 at about 17:30 local time, a Allen Raymond H LANCAIR LEGACY registered N385AS, operated by Bowers Harbor Legacy N385AS LLC, was involved in an accident near Troy, Michigan, United States. 2 people were 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

25 December 2010 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Troy, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Oakland/Troy Airport (VLL)

Coordinates

42.5428, -83.1778

Aircraft

Allen Raymond H LANCAIR LEGACY

Registration

N385AS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bowers Harbor Legacy N385AS LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Traverse City → Troy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA135

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the structural icing on the airframe.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to the flight, the pilot obtained a weather briefing and there were no reports of icing along the intended route of flight. The experimental airplane was equipped with a de-ice system, and during the preflight inspection, the system was operational and continued to be operational during the flight. Prior to entering icing conditions, the pilot said the de-ice system indicated a "failure" but he was not concerned because he was in the clouds and the airframe was not accumulating any ice. Shortly thereafter during the descent, the airplane accumulated approximately 6 to 10 millimeters of rime ice. He reported the ice to the air traffic controller who cleared the pilot to a lower altitude. Because of the ice on the airplane, the pilot stated that he maintained a higher than usual airspeed in the pattern and on final approach. While over the threshold, the airplane encountered an abrupt, counter clockwise roll, and he was unable to recover with the altitude remaining. He said the left main landing gear contacted the runway, and collapsed. The airplane turned to the left and came to rest upright on the runway surface. He estimated the wind was from 350 degrees at 10 knots. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the left wing sustained substantial damage. Other than the de-ice system, the pilot reported no additional anomalies with the airplane. The reason for the de-ice system failure was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.