Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000 N239AM

Summary

On 20 June 2018 at about 16:45 local time, a Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000 registered N239AM, operated by Bald Eagle Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 June 2018 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Plum Island (2B2)

Coordinates

42.7964, -70.8394

Aircraft

Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 2000

Registration

N239AM

Category

Airplane

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Bald Eagle Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Portland → Newburyport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA18LA175

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for existing crosswind conditions during the final approach and landing flare, which led to the airplane drifting left of the runway, and his delayed decision to go around, which resulted in the airplane touching down in the grass next to the runway and a subsequent collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, after a personal, cross-country flight, he entered the traffic pattern at the destination airport and noted a 20° left crosswind between 9 and 11 knots. The final approach was stable, but after crossing the threshold, the airplane descended and drifted left over grass adjacent to the runway. Because the airplane was not over the runway, the pilot chose to conduct a go-around and added full power, but the left main landing gear struck the grass next to the runway. The airplane did not climb and continued drifting left. The pilot retracted the flaps in an attempt to gain altitude; however, the airplane still did not climb, and the stall warning horn activated. He pushed the yoke forward to avoid a stall, and the airplane touched down on the grass and then impacted trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that contributed to the accident. A stand of trees was located left of the runway. It is possible that the trees blocked the crosswind when the airplane descended below treetop level and that the pilot did not adequately compensate for the existing winds during the final approach and landing flare.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.