# NTSB CEN11LA390: Piper PA-28R-201, N204ND, Grand Forks, ND, May 14, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 2011, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Grand Forks, ND - Coordinates: 47.947223, -97.173889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9472&lon=-97.1739&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 23, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: University of North Dakota, Federal Aviation Administration - Fargo, Federal Aviation Administration - Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80767 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA390 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80767/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80767 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA390 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the landing, which resulted in an inadequate flare and subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that his student was practicing a simulated forced landing to a runway when the accident occurred. He stated that, after a firm touchdown, the airplane began to veer to the right. He noted that the right wing was lower than the left wing and his initial thought was that the right tire was flat. After coming to a stop, the airplane would not move forward without an excessive application of engine power. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear had collapsed rearward, with substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Examination of the right main landing gear did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or failures that would have prevented normal operation. Interviews of recent flight crews did not reveal any hard landings that could have damaged the right main landing gear before the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2011, at 1430 central daylight time, a Piper model PA-28R-201 airplane, N204ND, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Grand Forks International Airport (KGFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota. The flight instructor and student were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the University of North Dakota, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The local instructional flight originated from KGFK at 1300. The flight instructor reported that his student was practicing a simulated forced landing to runway 35L when the accident occurred. The student, who was obtaining instruction toward a flight instructor certificate, was flying from the right seat. The flight instructor stated that after a "firm" touchdown the airplane began to veer to the right. He noted that the right wing was lower than the left wing and his initial thought was that the right tire was flat. After coming to a stop, the airplane would not move forward without an excessive application of engine power. The engine was shut down and the flight crew notified the control tower that they required a tow to the ramp. After exiting the airplane the flight instructor noticed that the right main landing gear had collapsed rearward during the landing. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The right main landing gear strut assembly was observed to be fully extended at the accident site; however, when examined by the operator the strut assembly did not exhibit any material failure, corrosion, or binding. Interviews of recent flight crews did not reveal any hard landings that could have damaged the right main landing gear before the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N204ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N204ND), registered now, S/N 2844070, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2844070 - Airframe hours: 6682 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: University of North Dakota - Registered owner: University of North Dakota - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, April 13, 2011 - Departed: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND - Destination: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND - Airport: KGFK, Grand Forks International, runway 35L, 7,349 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,553 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,349 as pilot in command, 163 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 7, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 205 total, 12 in this make and model, 59 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 15 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KGFK ## 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 20110514012879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110514012879A), May 14, 2011: Piper PA-28R-201, Grand Forks, ND, Substantial damage. Left landing gear strut failed on hard landing touchdown on runway. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80767. 533 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 409 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation, Frank Argenziano (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation,%20Frank%20Argenziano-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 3, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%0D%0A-Master.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.