# NTSB CEN12CA272: Tucker-Hurni Starduster SA-300, N4523, Vidalia, LA, April 27, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 27, 2012, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Vidalia, LA
- Coordinates: 31.561944, -91.506385 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5619&lon=-91.5064&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 14, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83552
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA272
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83552/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83552
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA272

## Probable cause

The failure of the airplane’s right main landing gear due to a pre-existing fatigue crack and corrosion.

## 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: [Tucker-Hurni STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=86601M3), [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: [Tucker-Hurni STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=86601M3), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Tucker-Hurni STARDUSTER SA-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=86601M3), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While on the landing roll in a grassy area with rough terrain, the airplane's right main landing gear broke and separated from the airplane. The pilot was then unable to maintain directional control of the airplane, which then nosed over and came to rest inverted with substantial damage to the upper wing and rudder. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right landing gear strut had a pre-existing fatigue fracture with interior corrosion, which was not discovered during a previous inspection.

## Factual narrative

To help with directional control on the tailwheel equipped airplane, the pilot landed in grassy area with rough terrain features. While on the landing roll, the airplane's right main landing gear broke and separated from the airplane. Directional control of the airplane was lost, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest in the inverted position. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's upper wing and rudder. An examination of the airplane revealed a pre-existing fatigue fracture with interior corrosion of the right landing gear strut, that was not discovered during the previous inspection.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4523](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4523), registered now, S/N 259, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TUCKER-HURNI STARDUSTER SA-300
- Registry model: [Tucker-Hurni STARDUSTER SA-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/tucker-hurni-starduster-sa-300) (registry code 86601M3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C125 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c125-series) (registry code 17011, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 259
- Airframe hours: 427
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C-125-2 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 2, 2011
- Departed: 0R4, Vidalia, LA
- Destination: 0R4, Vidalia, LA
- Airport: 0R4, Concordia Parish, runway 14, 3,700 × 100 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 12, 2011; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,761 total, 69 in this make and model, 2,690 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KHEZ, 11 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 20120427009869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120427009869A), Apr 27, 2012: Tucker-Hurni STARDUSTER SA-300, Vidalia, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting flight practice and landings at his home airport. The strip he was using was a grassy area located just north of the paved landing strip.…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83552. 990 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 721 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367545&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot statement to FAA/NTSB (item 2, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367546&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20statement%20to%20FAA%2FNTSB-Redacted.PDF
- Correspondence: Record of Conversation with FAA inspectors. (item 3, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367548&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%3A%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20inspectors.-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.

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