# Accident 20240904014229A: Piper PA-28R-200, Crystal, MN, September 4, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2024, 19:45 local time
- Place: Crystal, MN
- Airport: Crystal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.0647° N, 93.3566° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0647&lon=-93.3566&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4081S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4081S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-200 (registry code 7102811, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 334 total, 182 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA342) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240904014229A

## Narrative

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

WHILE LANDING AT THE PIC’S HOME AIRPORT AFTER A 50-MINUTE FLIGHT A WIND GUST CAUGHT THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN A 3–4-FOOT RISE. THE PIC CONTINUED TO LAND AND EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING. THE PIC STOPPED TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE CONTINUING TO HIS HANGAR TO PARK THE AIRCRAFT. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE PIC’S ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^FLEW THE AIRCRAFT. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. AFTER TAKEOFF HE ATTEMPTED TO RAISE THE LANDING GEAR BUT THE GEAR IN TRANSIT LIGHT STAYED ON. HE CYCLED THE LANDING GEAR MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE RETURNING TO LAND BACK AT HIS HOME AIRPORT. THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED, AND ALL THREE DOWN LOCK LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AND TAXIED TO PARKING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER AND HIS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND, NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. THE AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN REACHED OUT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID HE COULD LOOK AT IT THE FOLLOWING DAY IF THEY FLEW IT TO HIM. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FLEW IT TO ANOTHER AIRPORT LEAVING THE LANDING GEAR DOWN FOR THE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL THEN JACKED THE AIRCRAFT AND RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR CONFIRMING THE GEAR IN TRANSIT LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHILE INSPECTING THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED MAINTENANCE DISCOVERED A BROKEN TUBE IN THE ENGINE MOUNT WHICH PREVENTED THE GEAR FROM FULLY RETRACTING. THE FAA AND THE NTSB WERE THEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE DAMAGE. THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND SENT OUT FOR REPAIR. THE REPAIR FACILITY CUT OUT THE DAMAGED PORTION OF THE ENGINE MOUNT AND THE SAME UNDAMAGED SECTION FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE MOUNT. PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE WERE SENT TO THE NTSB FOR ANALYSIS. THE NTSB REPORTED CORROSION INSIDE THE TUBES OF THE ENGINE MOUNT AND REQUESTED THE PIECES TO BE SENT TO THE NTSB LAB FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.

## 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 CEN24LA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA342), Sep 5, 2024: Piper PA-28R (N4081S), Crystal, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the engine mount under normal operating loads due to the fracture of a vertical tube that was weakened by corrosion and fatigue of the internal surfaces.

## Other reports on N4081S (1)

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

- [Accident 19780130000949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780130000949A), Jan 30, 1978: Piper PA28R200 (N4081S), E. Stroudsburg, PA, Substantial damage

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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