# Accident 19990323002619A: Piper PA31350, Waterloo, IA, March 23, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 1999, 19:13 local time
- Place: Waterloo, IA
- Airport: Waterloo Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4899° N, 92.3507° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4899&lon=-92.3507&mi=10
- Aircraft: N812TB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N812TB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31350
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA114) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990323002619A

## Narrative

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

(-23)THE PILOT STATED HE HAD COMPLETED TWO TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS WITHOUT INCIDENT.  ON THE THIRD LANDING HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE AICRAFT AND DRIFTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, SKIDDED ONTO THE GRASSED AREA WHERE THE NOSE LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF.  SKID MARKS FROM THE RIGHT TIRE (FROM HEAVY BREAKING)AND NOSE TIRE WERE EVIDENT ON THE RUNWAY.  UPON EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE NOSE GEAR TORQUE LINKS WERE SEPARATED AT THE CENTER ATTACH BOLT CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR STEERING SYSTEM TO BE INEFFECTIVE.  THE PAINT WAS WORN OFF THE END OF THE LOWER TORQUE LINK FRO CONTACT WITH THE TIRE.  RUBBER WAS FOUND GRAFTED FROM THE TIRE TO A PORTION OF THE WORN AREA OF THE END OF THE LOWER TORQUE LINK.

## 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 CHI99LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA114), Mar 24, 1999: Piper PA-31-350 (N812TB), Waterloo, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.

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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