# Accident 20020417006179A: Amtr BD5B, Bessemer, AL, April 17, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 17, 2002, 12:00 local time
- Place: Bessemer, AL
- Airport: Bessemer Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3128° N, 86.9261° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3128&lon=-86.9261&mi=10
- Aircraft: N727BD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N727BD-2006-10-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grouleff Greg BD-5B (registry code 11307J4, https://openairdocs.org/model/grouleff-greg-bd-5b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honda CIVIC (registry code 33802, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honda-civic) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR BD5B
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA087) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020417006179A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT STATED THAT ON LANDING THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, SKID ABOUT 300 FEET AND HIT A TREE. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL AND AXLE HAD DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT ON LANDING. DURING THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL HAD DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT ON TOUCHDOWN. THE ALUMINUM CASTING THAT ATTACHES TO THE LANDING GEAR LEG HAD FAILED. THE CASTING PART NUMBER LG93 WAS MANUFACTURED BY THE BD MICRO AIRCRAFT CORPORATION. THE MANUFACTURING DATE WAS 1985. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE PART HAD ANY PREVIOUS DAMAGE OR CRACKS. NO INJURIES. (.19) ON APRIL 17, 2002, AT 1145 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A GREG GROULEFF BD-5B, EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE, N727BD, REGISTERED TO, OWNED, AND OPERATED BY THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO TREES DURING LANDING ROLL AT BESSEMER AIRPORT IN BESSEMER, ALABAMA. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED, AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED BESSEMER, ALABAMA, AT 1115.            ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, A NORMAL APPROACH WAS EXECUTED TO RUNWAY 5 AT 125 TO 130 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED A LIGHT CROSSWIND CONDITION WAS PRESENT, AND HE EXECUTED A TOUCHDOWN ON THE LEFT MAIN FIRST. THE PILOT STATED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR THEN COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY AT HIGH SPEED INTO TREES. INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS COLLAPSED, AND BOTH WINGS DISPLAYED IMPACT DAMAGE. THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND AXLE HAVE NOT BEEN LOCATED.

## 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 ATL02LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA087), Apr 17, 2002: Greg Grouleff BD-5B (N727BD), Bessemer, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare that resulted in a hard landing and the fracture of the left main landing gear casting.

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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