# NTSB ANC07LA038: Piper PA-32, N4025W, Kenai, AK, May 19, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 2007, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.45861, -151.933609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4586&lon=-151.9336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchoragr FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 65646 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65646/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA038 ## Probable cause The left main landing gear attaching bolts sheared during landing, which resulted in the left main landing gear collapsing and the left wing and the stabilator striking the ground. ## 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 attachment - sheared (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was being operated by the commercial certificated pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. During an off airport landing on a gravel airstrip the left main landing gear collapsed. The pilot said an inspection of the gear revealed that the landing gear attaching bolts had sheared, and that the left wing and stabilator were damaged when they struck the ground. He said there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. Due to the remote location, the NTSB did not examine the airplane. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2007, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-32 airplane, N4025W, sustained substantial damage when its left main landing gear collapsed during landing on a gravel airstrip, about 21 miles west of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Palmer Municipal Airport, Palmer, Alaska, about 0915. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 20, the pilot said when the airplane touched down on the gravel airstrip the left main landing gear collapsed. He said an inspection of the gear revealed that the landing gear attaching bolts had sheared. He said the airplane's left wing and horizontal stabilator were damaged during the accident. He said there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. Due to the remote location, the NTSB did not examine the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4025W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4025W), registered now, S/N 32-40039 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-40039 - Airframe hours: 11387 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540K1AF 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roland Erbey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2006 - Departed: PAAQ, Palmer, AK - Destination: Kenai, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 1,700 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 20070519009999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070519009999A), May 19, 2007: Piper PA32300, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he made a normal approach and landing. Upon touchdown and during rollout the left main gear detached from the airframe. The aircraft… ## Other investigations on N4025W (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 ANC83IA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83IA001), Oct 3, 1982: Piper PA-32-300 (N4025W), Near Port Heide, AK, incident, minor damage 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.