# NTSB ANC06LA143: Piper PA-32-300, N4466T, Fairbanks, AK, August 26, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2006, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.900321, -148.159042 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.9003&lon=-148.1590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64683 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64683/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA143 ## Probable cause The fracture of the aluminum alloy landing gear adapter assembly, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - fractured (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was landing a wheel-equipped airplane on a gravel-covered, private airstrip during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was landing to the east, which required a correction for a slight right crosswind. As the airplane touched down, it bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire, and then the left main tire. The pilot said that as soon as the left main tire made contact with the ground, the airplane veered sharply to the left, and the left wing struck an area of low brush and trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed that the lower portion of the left main landing gear strut had fractured, and the left main tire, wheel, and axle were missing. A search for the missing wheel assembly was unsuccessful. The upper portion of the left main landing gear strut remained attached to the airplane. The fracture origin site, located on the aluminum alloy adapter, P/N: 7838-002, was obliterated after contacting the ground, which precluded any further metallurgical examination. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2006, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-32-300 airplane, N4466T, sustained substantial damage while landing at a private airstrip about 60 miles east of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, about 1305. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 29, the pilot reported that he was landing to the east on a gravel-covered private airstrip, which required a correction for a slight right crosswind. The pilot stated that as the airplane touched down, it bounced slightly and settled onto the right main tire, and then the left main tire. He related that as soon as the left main tire made contact with the ground, the airplane veered sharply to the left, and the left wing struck an area of low brush and trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot said that a postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed that the lower portion of the left main landing gear strut had fractured, and the left main tire, wheel, and axle were missing. A search for the missing wheel assembly was unsuccessful. The upper portion of the left main landing gear strut remained attached to the airplane. The fracture origin site, located on the aluminum adapter, P/N: 7838-002, was subsequently obliterated after contacting the ground during the airplane's landing roll, which precluded any further metallurgical investigation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4466T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4466T-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 32-7240067, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7240067 - Airframe hours: 18596.4 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Seth W. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005, 162.3 hours before - Departed: FAI, Fairbanks, AK - Destination: Fairbanks, AK - Airport: runway 080, 4,500 × 60 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 226 total, 118 in this make and model, 139 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060826017849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060826017849A), Aug 26, 2006: Piper PA32300, Chena Hot Sprin, AK, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land on a gravel strip, upon landing heard a loud noise, lost control, ended up on side of strip. NTSB will not provide a # or… ## Other investigations on N4466T (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 ANC19LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA016), Apr 12, 2019: Piper PA-32-300 (N4466T), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to a fatigue failure of the crankshaft. A contributing factor was the inadequate inspection during the engine’s last overhaul. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.