# NTSB CEN15LA078: Piper PA 46 350P, N224JJ, Houston, TX, December 15, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 15, 2014, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.621944, -95.656944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6219&lon=-95.6569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90502 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90502/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90502 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA078 ## Probable cause The nose landing gear collapse as a result of the fracture of the engine mount at the nose gear actuator attachment point in an area that a service bulletin (SB) recommended for inspection. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s inadequate compliance with the SB. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear attach section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear attach section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear attach section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md) - [Inspection: scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 167 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, just after landing and as the nosewheel touched the runway, the airplane veered sharply left. The pilot applied right rudder; however, the airplane continued off the left side of the runway. The airplane's nose landing gear (NLG) collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a grassy area 150 ft from the runway. The examination of the airplane revealed a fractured engine mount in the area of the NLG actuator. As a result of similar accidents, the airplane's manufacturer had issued (about 12 1/2 years before the accident) a mandatory service bulletin (SB), which included a 100-hour recurring inspection to determine if cracks had developed on the engine mount in the area of the NLG actuator feet. The latest version of the SB was issued about 6 months before the accident. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that maintenance personnel had completed the SB inspection during three previous annual inspections; however, there was no record that the SB inspection was conducted during the last annual inspection, which occurred about 6 months before the accident. The accident is consistent with an uncommanded left turn during landing as a result of a broken engine mount. Based on the evidence and the events, it's likely that maintenance personnel did not inspect the engine mount during the most recent annual inspection or that they did inspect the area and missed the cracks that had likely developed on the engine mount. ## Factual narrative On December 15, 2014, about 1030 central standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P airplane, N224JJ, departed the left side of the runway at the Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR), Houston, Texas. The commercial rated pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to operated by Dilkara Leasing LLC, Las Vegas, Nevada under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and an instrument flight plan was filed. The airplane departed the Georgetown Municipal Airport (KGTU) Georgetown, Texas, about 0940. The pilot reported that he crossed the runway threshold at 100 feet and 85 knots, and touched down on the runway about 80-85 knots. When the nosewheel touched the runway, the airplane veered sharply left. He applied right rudder; however, the airplane continued off the left side of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest about 150 feet from the runway. The pilot stated that after the accident, an operations supervisor from the Fixed Based Operator (FBO) inspected the marks left on the runway. The pilot added that at the point where the nosewheel first contacted the runway, it appeared the wheel turned 90 degrees to the left. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the propeller, nose landing gear, lower cowling, and substantial damage to the firewall. An inspection of the engine compartment by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, revealed the engine mount had broken at the nose landing gear actuator attach point. Piper Aircraft, Inc., issued Service Bulletin 1103 on April 22, 2002, which addressed engine mount inspections of Piper Malibu and Mirage aircraft. The Service Bulletin requires Piper Malibu operators to inspect the engine mounts for cracks at the next scheduled maintenance event, and each 100 hours' time in service, or annual inspection thereafter. When cracks are observed, the engine mount is to be replaced with a newly designed model which incorporated a one-piece foot at the nose gear actuator attach point. The latest version is Service Bulletin 1103E, and was issued on June 5, 2014. The accident airplane was a Piper PA-46-350P, serial number 4622155, manufactured in 1994. The airplane's last annual maintenance inspection was performed on July 1, 2014, at the time of the accident, the total aircraft time was 2,024.0 hours. According to the FAA inspector, Service Bulletin 1103 had been accomplished during the annual inspections on the following dates and times: June 2011-1,795 hours, June 2012-1,849 hours, May 2013-1,900 hours. The inspector added that in July 2014 (1,993 hours) a visual inspection was performed but was not documented in ether the airframe or engine logs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N224JJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N224JJ), registered now, S/N 4622155, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 46 350P - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4622155 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 2024 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dilkara Leasing LLC - Registered owner: Dilkara Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2014 - Departed: KGTU, Georgetown, TX - Destination: SGR, Houston, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SGR, Sugar Land Regional, runway 17, 8,000 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 8, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,067.3 total, 112.1 in this make and model, 898.5 as pilot in command, 49.7 in the last 90 days, 21.1 in the last 30 days, 1.1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KSGR ## 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 20141215021479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141215021479A), Dec 15, 2014: Piper PA 46-350P, Sugarland, TX, Substantial damage. During landing rollout, upon initial contact of the nose landing gear, the PIC reported that the aircraft had a lack of steering control when the nose of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90502. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Email from FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Piper Aircraft Service Bulletin 1103E (item 3, .PDF, 812 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Piper%20Aircraft%20Service%20Bulletin%201103E-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.