# NTSB CEN09CA268: Luscombe 8, N2330K, Terrell, TX, April 22, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 22, 2009, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Terrell, TX
- Coordinates: 32.808334, -96.351112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8083&lon=-96.3511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Dallas FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73747
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA268
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73747/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73747
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA268

## Probable cause

The failure of the landing gear due to undetected corrosion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=8190108), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear strut/axle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Luscombe 8C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=8190108), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Other: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Luscombe 8C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=8190108), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Luscombe 8C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=8190108), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Luscombe 8C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=8190108), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot had just landed on a 2,630-foot-long by 30-foot-wide asphalt runway with a direct tailwind at 5 knots. The tailwheel was down and the airplane had slowed to a taxi speed when the right landing gear separated from the right landing gear leg, then both wingtips struck the ground causing substantial damage to both wings, and the fuselage. The pilot reported that he thinks the axle failed because of hidden corrosion inside the landing gear tubing that was not detectable during a normal preflight inspection.

## Factual narrative

The commercial pilot had just landed on a 2,630-foot-long by 30-foot- wide asphalt runway with a direct tailwind at 5 knots. The tail wheel was down and the airplane had slowed to a taxi speed when the right landing gear separated from the right landing gear leg, then both wingtips struck the ground causing substantial damage to both wings, and the fuselage. The pilot reported that he thinks the axle failed because of hidden corrosion inside the landing gear tubing that was not detectable during a normal preflight inspection.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2330K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2330K-2012-11-07), registration cancelled 2012-11-07, S/N 5057, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8 (C)
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8C](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8c) (registry code 8190108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5057
- Airframe hours: 615
- Engines: Continental C-85-8-F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2008, 4 hours before
- Departed: 17F, Terrell, TX
- Destination: 17F, Terrell, TX
- Airport: 1F7, Airpark East Airport, runway 31, 2,630 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2; last flight review October 3, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 3,735 total, 522 in this make and model, 3,704 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KHQZ, 9 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 20090422005859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090422005859A), Apr 22, 2009: Luscom 8C, Terrell, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) During taxi (after landing) the right wheel assembly broke off while approaching taxi turnoff.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73747. 627 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 627 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40312638&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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