# NTSB CEN10LA210: Piper PA-28-180, N3470R, Three Rivers, MI, April 12, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 2010, 20:30 local (Apr 12, 2010, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Three Rivers, MI - Coordinates: 41.95972, -85.59333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9597&lon=-85.5933&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75803 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA210 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75803/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75803 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA210 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during landing due to the failure of the left main landing gear torque link as a result of fatigue. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a touch-and-go landing, the airplane veered to the left and the flight instructor attempted to correct to the right thinking the student applied the left brake. However, the airplane continued to veer to the left and the right wing struck the terrain. The airplane continued off the runway and came to rest in a field. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left aft spar was bent and fractured, the left main landing gear separated, and the main landing landing gear torque link was fractured. An NTSB Materials Laboratory examination of the torque link revealed the fracture face contained crack arrest marks typical of fatigue cracking that emanated from multiple origins at the surface of the wall on both sides of the link. The fatigue origin areas contained no evidence of gouge damage or corrosion damage. The fatigue cracks were the result of lateral stress produced during landing and taxi operations. Hardness testing of the material produced values greater than the minimum hardness value. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 2010, at 2030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 single-engine airplane, N3470R, sustained substantial damage during landing at Three Rivers Municipal Dr. Haines Airport, Three Rivers, Michigan. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight departed from Three Rivers at 1940. According to the flight instructor, he and the student pilot were practicing touch and go landings. During the landing previous to the accident, the instructor reported that the landing "was not very good." The airplane touched down on the centerline; however, the student touched the left brake, which caused the airplane to divert to the left. The instructor corrected and they taxied back for another takeoff. During the accident landing after touchdown, the airplane veered to the left and the flight instructor attempted to correct to the right thinking the student applied the left brake again. However, the airplane continued to veer to the left and the right wing struck the terrain. The airplane continued off the runway and came to rest in a field. Examination of the airplane revealed the left aft spar was bent and fractured, the left main landing gear separated, and the left main landing gear torque link was fractured. The torque link was retained and sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for further examination. NTSB Materials Laboratory examination of the torque link revealed the fracture face contained crack arrest marks typical of fatigue cracking that emanated from multiple origins at the surface of the wall on both sides of the link. On one side of the link, the fatigue crack extended through approximately 40 percent of the wall and on the other side, the fatigue crack extended through approximately 30 percent of the wall. The fatigue origin areas contained no evidence of gouge or corrosion damage. Hardness testing of the material produced values greater than the minimum hardness value. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3470R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3470R), registered now, S/N 28-5696, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-5696 - Airframe hours: 5486 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 2009 - Departed: HAI, Three Rivers, MI - Destination: HAI, Three Rivers, MI - Airport: HAI, Three Rivers Municipal, runway 09, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 9,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 4 total, 4 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Visibility: 10 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 20100411031839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100411031839A), Apr 11, 2010: Piper PA-28-180, Three Rivers, MI, Substantial damage. CFI stated that after touch down aircraft drifted to the left , corrected and then the aircraft began to skid to the left and departed the runway. Left main… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75803. 503 KB in all. - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report No. 10-049 (item 1, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%20No.%2010-049-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330295&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. --- 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.