# Accident 20000914038749A: Piper PA31350, Emmonak, AK, September 14, 2000 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 14, 2000, 19:10 local time - Place: Emmonak, AK - Airport: Emmonak Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Location: 62.7897° N, 164.5498° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.7897&lon=-164.5498&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4105D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4105D) (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 - Pilot flight hours: 5,300 total, 532 in this make and model, 260 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC00LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA133) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000914038749A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2000, ABOUT 1915 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-31-350 AIRPLANE, N4105D, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LANDING AT EMMONAK, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS FLIGHT 166 ON A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) SCHEDULED DOMESTIC FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 135, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY GRANT AVIATION INC., ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT CERTIFICATED PILOT, AND THE THREE PASSENGERS, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. VFR COMPANY FLIGHT FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WERE IN EFFECT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE ALAKANUK AIRPORT, ALAKANUK, ALASKA, AT 1910. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC), ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2000, THE COMPANY'S VICE PRESIDENT FOR AIRLINE OPERATIONS REPORTED THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED ALAKANUK, THE TORQUE LINK, INSTALLED ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT, FRACTURED. THE VICE PRESIDENT SAID THE RUNWAY SURFACE AT ALAKANUK IS ROUGH WITH SEVERAL POTHOLES. HE SAID THAT THE LOSS OF THE TORQUE LINK ALLOWED THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR WHEEL TO ROTATE WITHIN THE UPPER LANDING GEAR STRUT HOUSING. WHEN THE PILOT LANDED AT EMMONAK, THE RIGHT WHEEL DID NOT REMAIN ORIENTED ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE AIRPLANE, AND ABOUT 600 FEET AFTER TOUCH DOWN, THE LOWER LANDING GEAR STRUT AND WHEEL BROKE AWAY FROM THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING. THE RIGHT WING SETTLED ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT PROPELLER TIPS, AND THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE RIGHT FLAP WERE DAMAGED. THE RIGHT WING ATTACH POINTS FOR THE LANDING GEAR WERE NOT DAMAGED. ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2000, THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE FOR THE COMPANY REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FUSELAGE BULKHEAD, AND THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. ADDITIONALL, THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK A RUNWAY LIGHT FIXTURE. (-23) UPON LANDING AT EMMONAK, ALASKA, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR PISTON, FORK AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING GEAR LEG AND STRUCK THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CAUSING A DENT IN THE LEADING EDGE. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED ON THE REMAINING PART OF THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR LEG AND SETTLED DOWN ON THE RIGHT WING CAUSING PUNCTURES AND SCRATCHES IN THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE OUTER WING PANEL AND WING TIP. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A LANDING LIGHT C AUSING A DENT IN THE LEADING EDGE. THE RIGHT PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND BENDING THE TIPS OF ALL THREE BLADES. THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE RUNWAY WHICH RESULTED IN SCRATCHES IN THE EMPENAGE EXTERIOR SKIN AND A CRACK AND BUCKLE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF THE LAST BULKHEAD. IT IS SUSPECTED THE TORQUE LINK (SCISSORS) FAILED DURING THE TAKE-OFF RUN WHERE THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL STRUCK A "CHUCK HOLE" FILLED WITH WATER AT ALAKANUK, THE LAST POINT OF DEPARTURE PRIOR TO LANDING AT EMMONAK. ## 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 ANC00LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA133), Sep 15, 2000: Piper PA-31-350 (N4105D), Emmonak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's continued operation of the airplane on unsuitable terrain, and the subsequent failure of the main landing gear torque link. Factors in the accident were rough and uneven runways, and… ## Other reports on N4105D (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20040522013179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040522013179A), May 22, 2004: Piper PA31350 (N4105D), Goodnews Bay, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Folllowing departure out of gnu encountered severe turbulance in cruise resulting in substantial airframe damage. - [Accident 19970328003799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970328003799A), Mar 28, 1997: Piper PA31350 (N4105D), Nome, AK, Substantial damage. Experienced an engine fire on landing. (.4)the airplane was on a short final approach to land when the pilot noticed flames coming from the left engine… - [Incident 19911025057769I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911025057769I), Oct 25, 1991: Piper PA31350 (N4105D), Marthas Vineyar, MA. Fuel leak in left engine. Shut down and diverted to Vineyard haven. Fuel line had come loose. - [Incident 19840728041129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840728041129I), Jul 28, 1984: Piper PA31350 (N4105D), Huntsville, AL, Minor damage. Failed to lower gear. Propellers hit runway. Applied aft elevator. Became airborne. Extended gear and landed. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.