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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 9, 2017 · Piper PA 44-180 180 · N3020M

Gaithersburg, MD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 9, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Gaithersburg, MD
Aircraft
Piper PA 44-180 180 (1979)
Tail Number
N3020M
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA17LA204

According to the flight instructor, after an uneventful training flight, the airplane was returning to home base. After touchdown and during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right of the centerline and stopped. The instructor exited the airplane and discovered that the right main landing gear had collapsed. Postaccident examination of the landing gear revealed that the right aft main landing gear trunnion bracket had failed and that the wing spar web was damaged. A visual examination of the fracture surfaces revealed that the landing gear trunnion bracket failed during an overstress event. A review of the logbooks did not reveal any recent maintenance to the gear assembly. The investigation could not determine when the overstress event occurred that resulted in the failure of right main landing gear trunnion bracket.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the right main landing gear trunnion bracket due to an undetermined overstress event.

Full Narrative

On June 8, 2017, about 2110 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180 airplane, N3020M, was substantially damaged during landing rollout at Montgomery County Airpark (GAI), Gaithersburg, Maryland. The flight instructor and two student pilots were not injured. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.According to the flight instructor, he was returning to home base after a training flight that consisted of basic maneuvers, as well as two takeoffs and landings to a full stop. During the final approach the flight instructor configured the airplane for landing and briefed the student pilot. The touchdown was uneventful and during the landing roll the airplane began veering to the right of centerline. The airplane came to a full stop and the instructor performed an engine shutdown before exiting the airplane. On inspection of the airplane the flight instructor noted that the right main landing gear was collapsed and bent backwards towards the aft of the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the aft right wing spar web was damaged during the landing sequence. Further examination of the landing gear revealed that the right aft main landing gear trunnion bracket failed. A visual examination of the fracture surfaces by the NTSB Materials laboratory revealed that there were no signs of fatigued failure within the trunnion, and the bracket failed during an overstress event. A review of the logbooks did not reveal any recent maintenance to the landing gear assembly.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time21:10 EDT
Nearest AirportMontgomery County Airpark (0nm W)
Runway14
Runway Length4202 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA 44-180 180
Tail NumberN3020M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · LO-360-E1A6D · Reciprocating · 180 | Lycoming · LO-360-E1A6D · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 34 · Third Class · None
Crew 2Age 37 · First Class · None
Crew 3None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind310° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingUnknown 10000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point59
Altimeter29.94 inHg
Observation Time01:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data