# NTSB CEN13LA050: Waco SRE, Lafayette, LA, November 4, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 4, 2012, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Lafayette, LA - Coordinates: 30.208889, -91.990554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2089&lon=-91.9906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-BAT-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85525 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85525/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85525 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA050 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he made an uneventful landing in calm wind; however, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. He applied left rudder and a little engine power in an unsuccessful attempt to correct the airplane heading. The airplane then nosed over. A postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear collapsed. Subsequent metallurgical examination of the failed landing gear components revealed features consistent with overstress separations, which likely occurred during the accident sequence, with no indication of significant preexisting corrosion or cracking. Postaccident examination did not reveal any preimpact failure or malfunction with either the landing gear or brakes that would have resulted in the loss of directional control. ## Factual narrative On November 4, 2012, at 1700 central standard time, a WACO SRE, NC247E, nosed over following a loss of control during landing roll at the Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), Lafayette, Louisiana. The pilot and two passengers on board were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The local personal flight was being conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from LFT at 1630. The pilot reported he made an uneventful landing and during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. He applied left rudder and little power in an attempt to straighten the airplane heading with no response. The airplane then nosed over. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear collapsed, the vertical stabilizer was crushed, and the right lower wing was substantially damaged as was the fuselage. An inspection of the brakes and tires did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in the loss of directional control. The right gear brace strut was bent and cracked. The strut remained secured at its gear and fuselage attach points. The right main landing gear brace strut was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board’s materials laboratory for examination. The examination revealed that the crack faces and bending patterns were consistent with overstress. ## Aircraft - Registration: NC247E (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: WACO SRE - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5081 - Airframe hours: 2813 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney 985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lerille L J - Registered owner: Lerille L J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 2012, 3 hours before - Departed: Lafayette, LA - Destination: Lafayette, LA - Airport: LFT, Lafeyette Regional, runway 04R, 7,651 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 3,615 total, 800 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LFT ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85525. 856 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 757 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383409&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Materials Laboratory Email (item 2, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383410&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Email-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384216&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-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.