# NTSB ATL88LA080: Piper PA-44-180, N268NA, Florence, SC, January 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1988, 19:48 local (Jan 16, 1988, 00:48 UTC)
- Place: Florence, SC
- Coordinates: 34.17945, -79.779525 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1795&lon=-79.7795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7698
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7698/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA080

## Analysis

THE LEFT MAIN LDG GEAR COLLAPSED DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, FOLLOWING A TOUCH & GO LDG. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY VEERED INTO A SNOWBANK. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MLG TRUSS BRACKET ASSY HAD PULLED LOOSE FROM THE ACFT STRUCTURE AND THAT TWO OF THE LOWER MOUNTING BOLTS WERE MISSING. THE CORRESPONDING BOLT HOLES IN THE BRACKET AND IN THE ACFT STRUCTURE EXHIBITED NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE. EXAM OF THE ACFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED NO ENTRIES WITH REGARD TO ANY WORK PERFORMED ON THE TRUSS BRACKET ASSY. THE CFI RPTD THAT SHE AND HER STUDENT HAD FELT A 'BUMP' FROM THE LEFT GEAR WHILE LANDING AT ANOTHER ARPT EARLIER THAT EVENING. SHE EXAMINED THE GEAR PRIOR TO DEPARTING THE ARPT, BUT FOUND NOTHING 'UNUSUAL', EXCEPT THAT THE ACFT SEEMED LOWER ON THE LEFT SIDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - missing (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - failure,partial (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - snowbank

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N268NA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N268NA-1994-04-18), registration cancelled 1994-04-18, S/N 448195010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 448195010
- Airframe hours: 6783
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: No. Amer.Institute Of Aviation
- Registered owner: N. Amer. Institute Of Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 1987, 46 hours before
- Departed: CAE, COLUMBIA, SC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: FLO, Florence Regional, runway 9, 6,498 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 691 total, 86 in this make and model, 573 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19880115000669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880115000669A), Jan 15, 1988: Piper PA44180, Florence, SC, Substantial damage. Left main gear partially collapsed on touch and go. Veered off into a snowbank. Side load pulled out truss bracket.

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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