# NTSB CEN15LA444: Piper PA 24-250, N7803P, New Orleans, LA, September 19, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 19, 2015, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: New Orleans, LA
- Coordinates: 30.042499, -90.028335 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0425&lon=-90.0283&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92203
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA444
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92203/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92203
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA444

## Probable cause

The collapse of the landing gear for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot was landing the airplane after conducting a cross-country flight. The pilot reported that, after the main landing gear touched down, he heard a "throbbing" sound and thought that the right main landing gear tire had gone flat. The pilot applied left aileron in an attempt to lift the load off the right main tire. The airplane subsequently drifted left, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane then came to rest upright adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported no anomalies with the landing gear system before landing. The airplane was examined about 1 month after the accident occurred. During the examination, the airplane was resting on a flatbed trailer, and the landing gear system and tires were not accessible; therefore, the reason for the landing gear collapse could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On September 19, 2015, about 1430 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, N7803P, experienced a landing gear collapse during landing at Lakefront Airport (NEW), New Orleans, Louisiana. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was registered to Tinkstoy, LLC, Little Rock, Arkansas, and operated by a private individual as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported by the pilot at the accident site, and an instrument flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Cantrell Field Airport (CXW), Conway, Arkansas, about 1230. After the main landing gear touched down, the pilot heard a "throbbing" sound like the right main landing gear tire went flat. The pilot applied left aileron in an attempt to lift the load off the right main tire. The airplane drifted to the left, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported no anomalies with the landing gear system prior to landing. On October 19, 2015, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector determined that the damage to the fuselage bulkheads was considered substantial damage, and the accident was then reported to the NTSB. During the FAA examination, the airplane was resting on a flatbed trailer, and the FAA inspector was unable to adequately view the landing gear areas to assess the system and tires. The inspector observed the "landing gear actuation rods" were bent, but was unable to determine if the damage was prior to or after the impact. The reason for the landing gear collapse could not be determined. According to the airplane maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was completed on May 1, 2015, at a total airframe time of 5,188.5 hours. During the annual inspection, the main landing gear left and right lower side brace links were replaced (The maintenance record did not indicate if the left or right main landing gear side braces were replaced). The landing gear system was lubricated and an operational check was satisfactory.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7803P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7803P), registered now, S/N 24-3064 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 24-250 (250)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24-3064
- Year built: 1962
- Airframe hours: 5188.5
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2015
- Departed: CXW, Conway, AR
- Destination: NEW, New Orleans, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: NEW, Lakefront Airport, runway 36L, 6,879 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,300 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg

## 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 20150919019649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150919019649A), Sep 19, 2015: Piper PA-24-250, New Orleans, LA, Substantial damage. Acft landed with wheels down and upon touch down the nose gear collapsed. Acft veered left and came to a stop on the rwy and partially in the grass. When acft…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92203. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 676 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436177&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Excerpt of Airframe Records (item 4, .PDF, 470 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436178&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20of%20Airframe%20Records-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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