Incident Overview

Date: Friday 29 July 2022
Aircraft Type: CASA C-212 Aviocar 200
Owner/operator: Rampart Aviation
Registration Number: N497CA
Location: Raleigh/Durham Airport, NC (RDU) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Right Main Landing Gear (RMLG)Right Main Landing Gear (RMLG)
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A CASA C-212 Aviocar 200, N497CA, experienced a significant accident near Raeford, North Carolina, involving a pilot-in-command (PIC) and a second-in-command (SIC). The PIC, while flying two skydiving runs, descended to pick up a third group of skydivers, and the SIC initiated the approach to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). During descent, the SIC lost control, resulting in a hard landing and separation of the right main landing gear. The PIC, attempting to regain control, made a series of critical decisions, including leaving his seat and initiating a low approach, which led to the incident. The SIC then fell from the aircraft, and the PIC subsequently directed the SIC to declare an emergency and request a diversion to RDU. The crew coordinated with air traffic control and planned a landing at RDU, with the SIC responsible for communication. The PIC ultimately recovered the fractured RMLG on the runway, and the SIC was directed to declare an emergency and request a diversion. The incident was exacerbated by moderate turbulence and a delayed emergency briefing, culminating in the SIC’s apparent distress. The PIC?s actions, including leaving his seat and initiating a low approach, contributed to the accident.A CASA C-212 Aviocar 200, N497CA, experienced a significant accident near Raeford, North Carolina, involving a pilot-in-command (PIC) and a second-in-command (SIC). The PIC, while flying two skydiving runs, descended to pick up a third group of skydivers, and the SIC initiated the approach to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). During descent, the SIC lost control, resulting in a hard landing and separation of the right main landing gear. The PIC, attempting to regain control, made a series of critical decisions, including leaving his seat and initiating a low approach, which led to the incident. The SIC then fell from the aircraft, and the PIC subsequently directed the SIC to declare an emergency and request a diversion to RDU. The crew coordinated with air traffic control and planned a landing at RDU, with the SIC responsible for communication. The PIC ultimately recovered the fractured RMLG on the runway, and the SIC was directed to declare an emergency and request a diversion. The incident was exacerbated by moderate turbulence and a delayed emergency briefing, culminating in the SIC’s apparent distress. The PIC?s actions, including leaving his seat and initiating a low approach, contributed to the accident.

Description

A CASA C-212 Aviocar 200, N497CA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Raeford, North Carolina, USA. The pilot-in-command was not injured, and the second-in-command sustained fatal injuries during the subsequent diversion to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), North Carolina. The pilot-in-command (PIC) reported that they flew two skydiving runs then descended to the Raeford West Airport (NR20), North Carolina, to pick up a third group of skydivers. The second-in-command (SIC) was flying the approach to NR20 and was “on heading, altitude and airspeed” until the airplane descended below the tree line and “dropped.” Both pilots called for a go-around maneuver, which the SIC initiated; however, before the SIC could arrest the airplane’s sink rate and initiate a climb, the right main landing gear (RMLG) impacted the runway surface. The PIC assumed the flight controls upon the airplane reaching 400 ft agl, then flew a low approach over NR20 to have airfield personnel verify damage. The personnel subsequently called the PIC to let him know that they recovered the fractured RMLG on the runway. The PIC directed the SIC to declare an emergency and request a diversion to RDU for landing. While enroute to RDU, the crew coordinated with air traffic control, operations, and their customer, and planned their approach and landing at RDU, with the SIC responsible for communicating with air traffic control while the PIC flew the airplane. The PIC reported that there was moderate turbulence during the flight, and that about 20 minutes into the diversion to RDU, after conducting approach and emergency briefings, the SIC became visibly upset about the hard landing. In his final transmission, the SIC acknowledged a course heading from air traffic control. The PIC described that about this time the SIC opened his side cockpit window, and “may have gotten sick.” The PIC took over radio communications, and the SIC lowered the ramp in the back of the airplane, indicating that felt like he was going to be sick and needed air. The PIC stated that the SIC then got up from his seat, removed his headset, apologized, and departed the airplane via the aft ramp door. The PIC stated that there was a bar one could grab about 6 ft above the ramp; however, he did not witness the SIC grab the bar before exiting the airplane. The PIC then turned the airplane to the right to search for the SIC. The PIC then proceeded on course to RDU, where he performed a low-approach and then emergency landing. Upon landing, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and came to rest upright in the grass. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the RMLG, landing gear fittings, and the airframe structure where the fittings attach. Probable Cause The airplane?s encounter with windshear during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and separation of the right main landing gear, and the pilot?s subsequent decision to leave his seat in flight, which resulted in his fall from the airplane.

Source of Information

https://www.wral.com/on-cam-plane-comes-in-for-emergency-landing-at-rdu-airport/20395362/, https://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/article263974426.html?taid=62e4ae44fcd562000153cb91, https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/man-falls-out-of-cargo-plane-after-botched-landing-in-bizarre-incident-near-fort-bragghttps://www.wral.com/on-cam-plane-comes-in-for-emergency-landing-at-rdu-airport/20395362/, https://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/article263974426.html?taid=62e4ae44fcd562000153cb91, https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/man-falls-out-of-cargo-plane-after-botched-landing-in-bizarre-incident-near-fort-bragg

Primary Cause

Loss of control due to a combination of windshear during landing, pilot error (leaving seat, low approach), and a delayed emergency briefing.Loss of control due to a combination of windshear during landing, pilot error (leaving seat, low approach), and a delayed emergency briefing.

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