# Accident 20010329005579A: Piper PA18150, Holbrook, AZ, March 29, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: March 29, 2001, 10:30 local time - Place: Holbrook, AZ - Airport: Holbrook Municipal Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 34.9395° N, 110.0902° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9395&lon=-110.0902&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9299D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9299D-2019-01-25) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-18A 150 (registry code 7101837, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 485 total, 100 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA130) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010329005579A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19)ON MARCH 29, 2001, ABOUT 1030 HOURS MST, A PIPER PA18-150, N9299D, OP ERATED BY THE PILOT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAAMGED DURING LANDING ROLLOUT AT HOLBROOK, AZ. THE PRIVATE RATED PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT BUCKEYE, AZ. ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT AND WAS DESTINED FOR FARMINGTON, NM. WITH A STOP AT HOLBROOK. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 21 THE WIND WAS CALM. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT THE LEFT WING CAME UP AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT. (-23) PILOT STATED THAT DURING LANDING ROLL OUT IN CALM CONDITIONS THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY SWERVED AND GROUND LOOPED. HIS POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE UPPER RUDDER HINGE HAD SEPARATED FROM ITS MOUNTING POINT. INSPECTION BY AN A&P REVEALED THAT RUDDER HINGE HAD A FATIGUE CRACK WHICH HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OF THE REMAINING 1/8 INCH OF THE HINGE ATTACH PLATE. A & P ADDITIONALLY STATED THAT THE POINT OF FAILURE IS NORMALLY COVERED BY FABRIC AND WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE DURI NG ROUTINE INSPECTION. (.4) ON MARCH 29, 2001, ABOUT 1030 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A PIPER PA18-150, N9299D, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING LANDING ROLLOUT AT HOLBROOK, ARIZONA. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT, OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT BUCKEYE, ARIZONA, ON THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT, AND WAS DESTINED FOR FARMINGTON, NEW MEXICO, WITH A STOP AT HOLBROOK. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 21 THE WIND WAS OUT OF THE EAST ABOUT 10 KNOTS. DURING TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY VEERED RIGHT 90 DEGREES, AND EXITED THE RUNWAY INTO SAGE BRUSH COMING TO REST ON THE NOSE. NO OFFICIAL WEATHER WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE LOCATION. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED THAT THE LOWER RUDDER HINGE POINT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VERTICAL TAIL POST. THE STEERABLE TAIL WHEEL IS ATTACHED TO THE RUDDER HORNS NEAR THAT HINGE. PICTURES OF THE FAILURE WERE INCLUDED IN THE PILOT'S REPORT. ## 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 LAX01LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA130), Mar 29, 2001: Piper PA18-150 (N9299D), Holbrook, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the rudder lower hinge attach point resulting in a loss of rudder control and steerable tailwheel control. A factor was the crosswind condition. ## Other reports on N9299D (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20140420005829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140420005829A), Apr 20, 2014: Piper PA-18A 150 (N9299D), Ninilchik, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft was taking off from a beach at fossil point in lake clark national park. Airman says he hit a bump and lost control during takeoff roll, and… - [Accident 20020216002329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020216002329A), Feb 16, 2002: Piper PA18A150 (N9299D), Beatty, NV, No damage. (-23) Aircraft was landing on runway 34 Beatty Airport, with the winds coming straight down the runway at approximately 5 knots. The aircraft hit somewhat hard… - [Accident 19950604017929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950604017929A), Jun 4, 1995: Piper STCPA18 (N9299D), Manley Hs, AK, Substantial damage. Hard landing in gusty wind. Impact jammed rudder and damaged fuselage. Veered off runway. 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.