# NTSB BFO85FA073: Piper PA-31-350, N27902, Norfolk, VA, September 4, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1985, 02:25 local (06:25 UTC)
- Place: Norfolk, VA
- Coordinates: 36.920795, -76.219345 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9208&lon=-76.2193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11143
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85FA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11143/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85FA073

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear - overload

## Analysis

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE GEAR COLLAPSE AFTER CONTACTING A RWY LIGHT AND A TAXIWAY SIGN DURING A LANDING ROLL. THEFLT DEPARTED LA GUARDIA ARPT 230 LBS OVER THE 7000 PLD MAX GROSS WEIGHT OF THE ACFT AND AT LEAST 1 INCH AFT OF THE CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT. DURING THE ONE HOUR AND THIRTY FIVE MINUTE FLT TO NORFOLK, VA, THE 60 GALLON OF FUEL USED DECREASED THE WEIGHT OF THE ACFT TO 6870 BLS, HOWEVER, THE COMPUTED CG WAS STILL 1/2 INCH AFT OF THE LIMIT. THIS WAS RECONFIRMED BY THE PLT'S STATEMENT THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE ACFT VEERING TO THE RIGHT IN A QUICKER MANNER IF THE NOSE WHEEL HAD BEEN ABLE TO BE LOWERED TO THE PAVEMENT SOONER TO AID WITH NOSE WHEEL STEERING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27902](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27902-2014-04-11), registration cancelled 2014-04-11, S/N 31-7952037, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7952037
- Airframe hours: 2246
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Michael J. Russo
- Registered owner: Northeastern Aviation Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 28, 1985, 19 hours before
- Departed: LGA, NEW YORK CITY, NY
- Destination: ORF, NORFOLK, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ORF, Norfolk International, runway 23, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,500 total, 700 in this make and model, 5,350 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: 0RF, 27 nm away

## 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 19850904077809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850904077809A), Sep 4, 1985: Piper PA31350, Norfolk, VA, Substantial damage. The aircraft veered off the runway on landing, striking a light and a sign. CG exceeded the aft limit.

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.