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ERA20CA153

2020-04-19 · Merritt Island, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport COI

Current FAA registration · N855SH

Make / Model
HENDERSON SARAH SUPER ES
Year of manufacture
2020 · 0 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20200317
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ABBB83

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain a stabilized approach and improper landing flare, which resulted in a porpoised landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the airplane reported that, while on the final approach to land, the airplane may have been a little fast. When the airplane touched down on the runway it porpoised and resulted in separation of the nose gear. The airplane impacted the runway surface and veered off the runway onto the adjacent grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, while on the final approach to land, the airplane may have been a little fast. When the airplane touched down on the runway, it porpoised, which resulted in the separation of the nose landing gear. The airplane then veered off the runway onto grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent/approach/glide path-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_ERA20CA153.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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