# NTSB ANC89IA068: Piper PA-34-200T, N47895, Cordova, AK, May 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 4, 1989, 13:02 local (21:02 UTC)
- Place: Cordova, AK
- Coordinates: 60.790451, -145.610855 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7905&lon=-145.6109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5129
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89IA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5129/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89IA068

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE UPPER TRUNION BOLT WHICH NORMALLY HOLDS THE UPPER PORTION OF THE OVER CENTER DOWN LINK.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SETTLED ONTO ITS NOSE. A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE UPPER TRUNION BOLT HAD FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47895](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47895), registered now, S/N 34-7870012, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7870012
- Airframe hours: 7405
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-EB 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Wilburs Incorporated, doing business as Wilburs Flight Operations
- Registered owner: Joseph & Anne Wilbur
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 17, 1989, 66 hours before
- Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CDV, Cordova Mile 13, runway 27, 7,499 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,652 total, 8,184 as pilot in command, 303 in the last 90 days, 135 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 41 °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).

- [Incident 19890504046109I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890504046109I), May 4, 1989: Piper PA34200T, Cordova, AK, Minor damage. Nose gear collapsed on landing. Bolt attaching over center link to upper trunion had sheared.

## Other investigations on N47895 (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 ANC83IA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83IA058), Mar 19, 1983: Piper PA34-200T (N47895), Palmer, 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.

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