# NTSB ATL99LA091: Piper PA-30, N8055Y, Brooksville, FL, May 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 1999, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Brooksville, FL - Coordinates: 28.480476, -82.509025 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4805&lon=-82.5090&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46362 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL99LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46362/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA091 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor's failure to recover from a porpoise during landing and his failure to maintain directional control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The flight instructor and private pilot arrived at their destination after an uneventful flight. Upon touchdown on the runway, the airplane porpoised, ballooned, and yawed to the left with the left wing low and the nose in a nose high attitude. The instructor took control of the aircraft and during the second landing attempt the right main gear collapsed. The right wing and propeller struck the runway. The airplane subsequently departed the left edge of the runway at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 1999, at 1200 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N8055Y, collided with the runway when the right main gear collapsed on landing at the Hernando County Airport, in Brooksville, Florida. The dual instructional flight was operated by the certified flight instructor (CFI) under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The CFI and the private pilot were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Orlando Executive Airport, Orlando, Florida, at 1130. According to the CFI, a normal preflight and run-up was conducted prior to the flight to Brooksville, Florida. The enroute portion of the flight was uneventful with no mechanical problems reported by the CFI. The instructor reported that the Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) at the destination airport indicated that the winds were variable from the northeast at 10 to 12 knots. The CFI elected to use runway 09. A before landing checklist was completed, and the CFI reported that a visual check of the landing showed all three wheels down and locked. Upon touchdown, the airplane "suddenly and inexplicably porpoise on to the nose gear." The airplane then "ballooned" yawing left with the left wing low and, at a nose-high attitude. The CFI took control of the airplane and took the following corrective action: added full power, applied right rudder, applied right aileron and applied forward pressure on the yoke. Attempts by the CFI to correct the attitude of the airplane failed. The right main landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane departed the left edge of runway 09 at a 45 degree angle. Damage to the airplane consisted of the right wing spar, right tip tank, right horizontal stabilizer, right main gear, right propeller, and the right flap lower attach points. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8055Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8055Y), registered now, S/N 30-1168, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1168 - Airframe hours: 8114 - Engines: Lycoming I0-360-CIC 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph A. Levandowski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 23, 1998, 19 hours before - Departed: ORL, ORLANDO, FL - Destination: BKV - Airport: BKV, Hernando County, runway 9, 7,001 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; 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: 1,276 total, 212 in this make and model, 1,209 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BKV ## 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 19990515030139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990515030139A), May 15, 1999: Piper PA30, Brooksville, FL, Substantial damage. (.19) On may 15, 1999, at 1220 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N8055Y, collided with the runway when the right main gear collapsed on landing at the… 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.