PIPER PA 28
Van Nuys, CA — September 24, 2015
Event Information
| Date | September 24, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA15CA276 |
| Event ID | 20150928X52300 |
| Location | Van Nuys, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 34.20972, -118.49000 |
| Airport | VAN NUYS |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA 28 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to compensate for turbulence during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and runway excursion.
Full Narrative
The student pilot reported that during the landing, as he began to flare, the airplane was, "hit with the first blast of wake turbulence", from a helicopter that was hovering on the helipad to the left of the runway. The airplane landed hard, exited the runway to the right, and collided with a runway sign.
According to the Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at the airport, the temperature was 99 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind was variable at 4 knots.
The helicopter pad was located over 400 feet to the east of the location that the pilot reported encountering the blast of wake turbulence.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.