# NTSB CEN22LA184: Piper PA-24-260, N73T, Terre Haute, IN, April 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 27, 2022, 13:25 local (17:25 UTC) - Place: Terre Haute, IN - Coordinates: 39.456236, -87.3018 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4562&lon=-87.3018&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105012/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105012 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA184 ## Probable cause A hard landing, which resulted in the failure of the right main landing gear outer bearing and collapse of the landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102406), [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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the baggage door opened shortly after takeoff, so he decided to return for a landing. The landing gear circuit breaker tripped when he attempted to extend the landing gear on downwind. After resetting the circuit breaker, the landing gear extended normally, and the gear down light illuminated. Upon landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. An examination of the landing gear determined the outer bearing brace failed which allowed the landing gear strut to separate from the trunnion. Examination of the fracture surface revealed that the bearing failed as a result of overload. The overload failure of the landing gear bearing was consistent with a hard landing. ## Factual narrative On April 27, 2022, about 1325 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260 airplane, N73T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Terre Haute, Indiana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that shortly after departure the baggage door opened. He decided to return to land. On downwind, the landing gear in transit light remained illuminated and the circuit breaker tripped, after he selected the landing gear lever to the down position. The pilot reset the circuit breaker, recycled the landing gear, and the landing gear down light illuminated. Upon landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. An on-scene examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector determined that the spherical bearing common to the right main landing gear forward trunnion fitting had failed. The outer bearing race failed and allowed the landing gear strut to separate from the trunnion. Examination of the fracture surface revealed signatures consistent with overstress. No evidence of corrosion or fatigue was observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73T), registered now, S/N 24-4991, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4991 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 5427 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-N1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lucid Thought Consulting LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2022 - Departed: HUF, Terre Haute, IN - Destination: HUF, Terre Haute, IN - Airport: HUF, Terre Haute Regional Airport, runway 23, 9,021 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 21, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,367 total, 1,217 in this make and model, 4,242 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KHUF - METAR: KHUF 272053Z 31006KT 10SM CLR 19/03 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP230 T01890033 58021 ## 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 20220427005849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220427005849A), Apr 27, 2022: Piper PA-24-260, Terre Haute, IN, Substantial damage. The pilot reported hearing a higher than normal noise level during takeoff. He realized that the baggage door was not completely closed but there wasn?t enough… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105012. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13827632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20redacted_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13833570&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20rev-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13942369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20for%20N73T-Rel.pdf - Examination summary (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14021965&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20CEN22LA184-Rel.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.