# Accident 20110904022549A: Piper PA-44-180, Phoenix, AZ, September 4, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2011, 08:33 local time
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Airport: Deer Valley
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: FQAS
- Location: 33.6856° N, 112.0864° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6856&lon=-112.0864&mi=10
- Aircraft: N316PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N316PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-44-180 (registry code 7104402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,911 total, 772 in this make and model, 130 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11LA471](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA471) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110904022549A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2011, AIRCRAFT N316PA WAS PERFORMING TOUCH AND GOES WITH INSTRUCTOR PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND STUDENT PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. DURING THE THIRD LANDING ON RUNWAY 7R, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOSE LOW AND DECIDED TO PERFORM A FULL STOP. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ROLLED OUT TO TAXIWAY C6 WHERE HE EXITED THE RUNWAY. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THE AIRCRAFT HAD BLOWN A NOSE LANDING GEAR STRUT AND WAS SAFE TO TAXI. AS THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT POWERED UP TO TAXI BACK TO PARKING, HE HEARD THE LEFT AND RIGHT PROPELLERS STRIKE THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE LANDING GEAR DRAG LINK FAILED AT THE KNUCKLE WHERE THE AIRFRAME MOUNTED PORTION OF THE DRAGLINK CONNECTS TO THE LANDING GEAR PORTION. THE AIRFRAME SIDE OF THE DRAGLINK HAD MATERIAL FAILURE AT THE ATTACHMENT BOLT HOLE. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR MOVED FORWARD (OPPOSITE OF THE DIRECTION OF RETRACTION) AND CAME TO REST ON THE FOWARD NOSE CONE BULKHEAD. AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO STEER THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE RUDDER PEDALS, THE ADDED STRESS CAUSED THE STEERING HORN  MOUNT BOLTS TO FAIL. THE ADDITIONAL LOSS OF SUPPORT FOR THE NOSE LANDING GEAR AND ADDED POWER CAUSED THE GEAR TO CRUSH AND CRACK THE NOSE CONE BULKHEAD. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SETTLE FURTHER AND ALLOWED THE PROPELLERS TO STRIKE THE GROUND

## 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 WPR11LA471](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA471), Sep 4, 2011: Piper PA-44-180 (N316PA), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare and hard landing, which resulted in the failure of the nose landing gear drag link in overstress.

## Other reports on N316PA (1)

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

- [Incident 20130914020349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130914020349I), Sep 14, 2013: Piper PA-44-180 (N316PA), Phoenix, AZ, No damage. CFI conducted a simulated engine failure. Student secured the simulated engine out per the checklist, when he brought the engine back to normal operation he…

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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