# NTSB CEN18LA017: Piper PA 32RT-300T, N633CB, Port Mansfield, TX, October 19, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 2017, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Port Mansfield, TX - Coordinates: 26.560277, -97.439163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5603&lon=-97.4392&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; SAT FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96230 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96230/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96230 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA017 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which led to a hard landing and the subsequent collapse of the nosewheel landing gear due to the overstress failure of the nosewheel landing gear trunnion casting. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear strut/axle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/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-32RT-300T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that, during landing, he pitched the airplane's nose up "slightly" and reduced engine power before the main landing gear wheels touched down on the runway. The nosewheel landing gear then touched down and collapsed. Postaccident examination of the nosewheel landing gear revealed that the trunnion casting was fractured. Metallurgical examination of the trunnion casting revealed fractures consistent with overstress. No evidence of preexisting cracks was observed on any of the fracture surfaces. No other mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation were noted. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot did not properly flare the airplane, which led to a hard landing and the subsequent collapse of the nosewheel landing gear. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2017, at 1300 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T airplane, N633CB, experienced a nose landing gear collapse and an impact with a taxiway surface during an after-landing taxi at Charles R Johnson Airport (T05), Port Mansfield, Texas. The airplane sustained substantial fuselage damage. The private pilot and a commercial pilot were uninjured. The airplane was registered to PKJ Aviation LLC and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a part 91 personal flight. The flight was operating on an instrument rules flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed from Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport, Houston, Texas, at 1041 and was destined to T05. The private pilot stated that he had pitched the nose up "slightly" and reduced engine power prior to the main landing gear wheels touching down on the runway. The nose wheel landing gear then touched down and collapsed. Post-accident examination of the nose landing gear revealed a fractured trunnion casting. Metallurgical examination of the trunnion casting revealed fractures consistent with overstress. No evidence of preexisting cracks was observed on any of the fracture surfaces. No other mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N633CB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N633CB-2020-10-31), registration cancelled 2020-10-31, S/N 32R-7887158, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 32RT-300T (300T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (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: 32R-7887158 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 4050.31 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pkj Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 2017 - Departed: CXO, Houston, TX - Destination: T05, Port Mansfield, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: T05, Charles R Johnson Airport, runway 12, 3,200 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, unknown; last flight review January 26, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 100 total, 57 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 8, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 796 total, 234 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Observed at: HRL, 23 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 20171019014899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171019014899A), Oct 19, 2017: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Port Mansfield, TX, Substantial damage. After landing the aircraft was about to make a right turn in an effort to exit the runway. PIC applied power to initiate the turn when the nose gear trunnion… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96230. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474203&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Examination (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474204&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Examination-Master.PDF - NTSB Materials Laboratory Report (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474205&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Materials%20Laboratory%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo Log (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474206&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Log-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.