# Accident 19970626020049A: Amtr STARDUSTER2, Berriem Springs, MI, June 26, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 26, 1997, 19:48 local time
- Place: Berriem Springs, MI
- Airport: Andrews University Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9400° N, 86.3405° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9400&lon=-86.3405&mi=10
- Aircraft: N939H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N939H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hulliberger M W STARDUSTER II (registry code 86603BX, https://openairdocs.org/model/hulliberger-m-w-starduster-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental W670 series (registry code 17018, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR STARDUSTER2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,154 total, 42 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA186) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970626020049A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE PILOT IN COMMAND REPORTED THAT AFTER AN HOUR LONG LOCAL FLIGHT HE WAS RETURNING TO MAKE A FULL STOP LANDING ON RUNWAY 30. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE TOUCHDOWN WAS, 'VERY SMOOTH AND NORMAL, WITH THE POWER AT IDLE.' THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, 'THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED FORWARD AND THEN ROTATED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT.'  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LEFT ROTATION, 'THE AIRPLANE ROLLED UP ONTO BOTH RIGHT WINGTIPS, AND THEN FELL VERTICALLY ONTO ITS NOSE.'  THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, SUPPORTED BY THE LEFT WING AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR.  THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AXLE AND SUPPORT TUBE WERE SENT TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD MATERIALS LABORATORY DIVISION FOR INSPECTION.  THE LAB REPORT STATES THERE WAS EVIDENCE 'INDICATIVE OF A PREEXISTING BRITTLE FRACTURE AREA SUCH AS FATIGUE CRACKING.'  THE INSPECTION ALSO REVEALED THINNED AREAS OF THE TUBE.                                                              (-23) DURING LANDING ROLL-OUT, LEFT MAIN GEAR AXLE SEVERED AND SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  LEFT MAIN STRUT DUG INTO THE TURF (RUNWAY 03) AND THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND (GROUNDLOOP) CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS.  CA RBURETOR BOX WAS TORN OFF. THE WOODEN PROPELLER WAS SHATTERED TO SPLINTERS AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST STANDING ON ITS NOSE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA186), Jun 27, 1997: Hulliberger Starduster II (N939H), Berrien Springs, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the landing gear axle due to fatigue.

## Other reports on N939H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19880815032979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880815032979A), Aug 15, 1988: Amtrso STARDUSTER2 (N939H), White Cloud, MI, Substantial damage. Aircraft was found crash landed on airport. Flown by an unidentified person.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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