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20230820014519A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Waco UPF-7 · Warrenton, VA · August 20, 2023

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
August 20, 2023 · 20:42 local
Place
Warrenton, VA
Airport
Flying Circus Aerodrome
Phase of flight
Landing: Rollout
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N39721
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA23LA345
Reported as
Waco UPF-7
Reported engine
Continental W670 series
People aboard
3
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Commercial pilot
N39721Registered now · Waco UPF-7S/N 5854 · Built 1942Airframe modelWaco UPF-7Engine modelContinental W670 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.

On 8/20/2023 around 7:30 pm privacy data omitted was conducting an air tour ride. After take off the ground crews noticed the right gear was hanging out of the strut in flight and under the aircraft. They contact the pilot, privacy data omitted and he immediately he turned back. privacy data omitted Informed his two passengers of the issues, and turned to the south runway. They touched down on the left main wheel at 7:30PM, and as they rolled out the aircraft hit the ground, rolled nose down and everyone got out. No one was hurt. The aircraft was inspected and the retaining cap on the bottom of the right strut was missing one bolt and nut, and the other bolt and nut were attached to some brake line. After discussion with the mechanic this assembly is a strut within a strut. The inner strut broke loose from within and cause it to blow out. There is a big nut on the top of the main strut that retains the spring, fluid, and inner strut. The inner strut broke from within the outer strut. All records were found to be current.

As the FAA filed it

ON 8/20/2023 AROUND 7:30 PM ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS CONDUCTING AN AIR TOUR RIDE. AFTER TAKE OFF THE GROUND CREWS NOTICED THE RIGHT GEAR WAS HANGING OUT OF THE STRUT IN FLIGHT AND UNDER THE AIRCRAFT. THEY CONTACT THE PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND HE IMMEDIATELY HE TURNED BACK. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ INFORMED HIS TWO PASSENGERS OF THE ISSUES, AND TURNED TO THE SOUTH RUNWAY. THEY TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL AT 7:30PM, AND AS THEY ROLLED OUT THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND, ROLLED NOSE DOWN AND EVERYONE GOT OUT. NO ONE WAS HURT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS INSPECTED AND THE RETAINING CAP ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RIGHT STRUT WAS MISSING ONE BOLT AND NUT, AND THE OTHER BOLT AND NUT WERE ATTACHED TO SOME BRAKE LINE. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE MECHANIC THIS ASSEMBLY IS A STRUT WITHIN A STRUT. THE INNER STRUT BROKE LOOSE FROM WITHIN AND CAUSE IT TO BLOW OUT. THERE IS A BIG NUT ON THE TOP OF THE MAIN STRUT THAT RETAINS THE SPRING, FLUID, AND INNER STRUT. THE INNER STRUT BROKE FROM WITHIN THE OUTER STRUT. ALL RECORDS WERE FOUND TO BE CURRENT.

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 ERA23LA345Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportWarrenton, VAA ground loop during landing resulting from a partial separation of the right main landing gear strut during takeoff.Aug 20, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N39721 · 1

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

Incident 19890206001779IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Marathon, FLEngine failed on sightseeing flight, ditched in ocean. Believed fuel starvation due to contaminates and corrosion.Feb 6, 1989 · Minor damage