# Accident 20050514009189A: Piper PA28140, Puyallup, WA, May 14, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 14, 2005, 12:00 local time
- Place: Puyallup, WA
- Airport: Pierce County-Thun Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.1039° N, 122.2872° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1039&lon=-122.2872&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7263J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7263J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28140
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total, 500 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA05LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050514009189A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 14, 2005, ABOUT 1100AM, A PIPER PA-28-140, N7263J, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING A HARD LANDING AT PIERCE COUNTY AIRPORT, PUYALLUP, WASHINGTON. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DA^ THE LANDING APPROACH "LOOKED GOOD." DURING THE FLARE, THE AIRPLANE "HIT WIND SHEAR" AND LANDED "A LITTLE HARD." THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND EXECUTED A GO AROUND. HE HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM BENEATH THE AIRPLANE AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. HE ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND LAND OFF THE RUNWAY IN A GRASSY AREA. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE UPPER TORQUE LINK ATTACH LUGS ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT CYLINDER (P/N 65319-04) HAD SEPARATED. BOTH SEPARATION SURFACES DISPLAYED BEACH MARKS, RATCHET MARKS, AND AREAS OF DISCOLORATION INDICATIVE OF PREEXISTING CRACKS. PIPER HAD ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN 1131, WHICH CALLED FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE MAIN LANDING CYLINDER UPPER TORQUE LINK ATTACH LUGS FOR CRACKS IN THE AREA WHERE THE SUBJECT CYLINDER FAILED. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.

## 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 SEA05LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA106), May 14, 2005: Piper PA-28-140 (N7263J), Puyallup, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue cracking of the upper torque link attach lugs on the right main landing gear strut, which resulted in separation of the right main landing gear.

## Other reports on N7263J (2)

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

- [Accident 20140926019639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140926019639A), Sep 26, 2014: Piper PA-28-140 (N7263J), Ramona, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot reported the plane landed straight then leaned left as the left gear collapsed. Left wing touched surface followed by prop strike. After cutting the…
- [Accident 19730804024779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730804024779A), Aug 4, 1973: Piper PA28140 (N7263J), Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. Wind gusting 40K 0K.

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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