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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 26, 2006 · Piper PA-32-300 · N4466T

Fairbanks, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 26, 2006
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Fairbanks, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-32-300
Tail Number
N4466T
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC06LA143

The private certificated pilot was landing a wheel-equipped airplane on a gravel-covered, private airstrip during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was landing to the east, which required a correction for a slight right crosswind. As the airplane touched down, it bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire, and then the left main tire. The pilot said that as soon as the left main tire made contact with the ground, the airplane veered sharply to the left, and the left wing struck an area of low brush and trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed that the lower portion of the left main landing gear strut had fractured, and the left main tire, wheel, and axle were missing. A search for the missing wheel assembly was unsuccessful. The upper portion of the left main landing gear strut remained attached to the airplane. The fracture origin site, located on the aluminum alloy adapter, P/N: 7838-002, was obliterated after contacting the ground, which precluded any further metallurgical examination.

NTSB Probable Cause

The fracture of the aluminum alloy landing gear adapter assembly, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll.

Full Narrative

On August 26, 2006, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N4466T, sustained substantial damage while landing at a private airstrip about 60 miles east of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, about 1305. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 29, the pilot reported that he was landing to the east on a gravel-covered private airstrip, which required a correction for a slight right crosswind. The pilot stated that as the airplane touched down, it bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire, and then the left main tire. He related that as soon as the left main tire made contact with the ground, the airplane veered sharply to the left, and the left wing struck an area of low brush and trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot said that a postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed that the lower portion of the left main landing gear strut had fractured, and the left main tire, wheel, and axle were missing. A search for the missing wheel assembly was unsuccessful. The upper portion of the left main landing gear strut remained attached to the airplane. The fracture origin site, located on the aluminum adapter, P/N: 7838-002, was subsequently obliterated after contacting the ground during the airplane's landing roll, which precluded any further metallurgical investigation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:30 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway080
Runway Length4500 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32-300
Tail NumberN4466T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 23 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data