# NTSB ATL07CA097: Sherman John, H Nieuport II, N3124U, Binghamton, NY, June 25, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2007, 20:00 local (Jun 25, 2007, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Binghamton, NY - Coordinates: 42.188331, -75.838058 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1883&lon=-75.8381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Rodchester FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66085 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66085/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA097 ## Probable cause The failure of the main gear spring during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control, and a nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - landing gear,main gear spring - failure (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was test flying the airplane after modifying the landing gear suspension. He stated that the takeoff was routine, and that he stayed over the airport for about 30 to 45 minutes. He said he landed, and upon touchdown on the main wheels, the airplane "deliberately" went to the left. He applied right rudder with no response, and the right wing struck the ground and flipped the airplane inverted. According to the pilot, damage to the airplane consisted of the right upper and lower wing, the left upper wing, and the landing gear. He stated that the parts that failed during the accident were the landing gear lateral cable and the spring windings. The pilot's recommendation to prevent this from happening again would be to have the airplane inspected by an FAA Inspector, and to do more taxi testing before flight. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was test flying the airplane after modifying the landing gear suspension. He stated that the takeoff was routine and that he stayed over the airport for about 30 to 45-minutes. He said he landed to the west and upon touchdown on the main wheels the airplane "deliberately" went to the left. He applied right rudder with no response and the right wing struck the ground and flipped the airplane completely over. He shut the airplane down, released his restraints and exited without injury. The pilot further stated that he had had two previous landing gear center bar failures and had reinforced the center tube to a larger diameter, and had tightened the lateral landing gear cables and safety wired them. He also reduced the spring tension from 6 to 5-turns which he stated was the wrong thing to do. He said that to fix the landing gear so that this would not happen again he would need to do chrome work on the center bar and replace all the landing gear cables with a larger size. According to the pilot damage to the airplane consisted of the right upper and lower wing, the left upper wing and the landing gear. In addition he stated that the parts that failed during the accident were the landing gear lateral cable and the spring windings. The pilot's recommendation to prevent this from happening again would be to have the airplane inspected by an FAA Inspector, and to do more taxi testing before flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3124U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3124U), registered now, S/N 194 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sherman John, H Nieuport II - Registry model: [Sherman John H NIEUPORT 11](https://openairdocs.org/model/sherman-john-h-nieuport-11) (registry code 059013Y) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 194 - Engines: Volkswagen 1600 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John H. Sherman - Registered owner: John H. Sherman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PVT, Binghamton, NY - Destination: PVT, Binghamton, NY - Airport: 1NK8, Chenango Bridge Airport, runway 18, 1,700 × 145 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 96 total, 4 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: BGM ## 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 20070624014789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070624014789A), Jun 24, 2007: Amtr NIEUPORT11, Binghamton, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 2015 EDT, an amateur-built sherman nieuport 11, N3124U, operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted], made a hard landing on… 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.