20090228003669A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Kreps T18 · Palm Springs, CA · February 28, 2009

Date: February 28, 2009 · 16:10 local
Place: Palm Springs, CA
Airport: Palm Springs International
Phase of flight: Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N118CK
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR09CA134
Reported as: Kreps T18
Reported engine: Lycoming O320*
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 600 total300 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N118CKRegistration cancelled Apr 26, 2023 · Kreps Curtis D. THORP T-18S/N 1275 · Built 1980 Airframe modelKreps Curtis D. THORP T-18 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Inspected aircraft and found "a" frame weld at the left gear had failed due to corrosion and metal fatigue. Pilot had no control when left gear collapsed on landing. Amateur built aircraft had no requirements to inspect weld areas. Owner going to submit information to thorp for implementation of such procedures.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) INSPECTED AIRCRAFT AND FOUND "A" FRAME WELD AT THE LEFT GEAR HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND METAL FATIGUE. PILOT HAD NO CONTROL WHEN LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED ON LANDING. AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT HAD NO REQUIREMENTS TO INSPECT WELD AREAS. OWNER GOING TO SUBMIT INFORMATION TO THORP FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH PROCEDURES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR09CA134Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPalm Springs, CAA loss of directional control due to the fatigue failure of a tubular steel gear leg along a corroded weld line.Mar 1, 2009 · Substantial damage