# NTSB CEN24LA169: Baby Great Lakes -, N822CH, Castroville, TX, April 29, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 29, 2024, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Castroville, TX - Coordinates: 29.346226, -98.85211 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3462&lon=-98.8521&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194175 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194175/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194175 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA169 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear axle due to multiple fatigue crack initiation points joining into a single larger crack. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Pratt William J BABY GREAT LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=3910255), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Pratt William J BABY GREAT LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=3910255), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Pratt William J BABY GREAT LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3910255), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Pratt William J BABY GREAT LAKES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=3910255), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he thought he struck a pothole while landing on the grass runway. During the landing sequence, the airplane experienced a postimpact fire, and the airplane was destroyed. The pilot sustained thermal injuries and was hospitalized for an extended time period. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear axle had fractured during the landing sequence, and the landing gear leg punctured the fuel tank which likely contributed to the postimpact fire. Metallurgical examination revealed a series of ratchet marks consistent with multiple fatigue crack initiation points joining into a single larger crack on the right main landing gear axle. The fatigue crack extended across about 30% of the cross section of the tube before final failure due to overstress. The locations of the fatigue initiation points were consistent with the cyclic bending forces that would have been applied to this section of the landing gear under normal landing and takeoff conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N822CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N822CH-2025-05-15), registration cancelled 2025-05-15, S/N 350B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Baby Great Lakes - - Registry model: [Pratt William J BABY GREAT LAKES](https://openairdocs.org/model/pratt-william-j-baby-great-lakes) (registry code 3910255) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 350B - Airframe hours: 304 - Engines: Lycoming O-290G 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 26, 2023 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CVB, Castroville Muni, runway 16, 5,001 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 28, 2022; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,242 total, 383 in this make and model, 1,242 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KHDO, 17 nm away - METAR: KHDO 291851Z AUTO 15008G15KT 10SM FEW042 SCT050 BKN100 30/19 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP098 T03000189 ## 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 20240429003859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240429003859A), Apr 29, 2024: Pratt William J BABY GREAT LAKES, Castroville, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot was attempting to land on an undocumented grass runway located between the paved runway and the taxiway. The grass runway runs parallel and to the… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194175. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17472588&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N822CH--6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB materials laboratory email report (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 802 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17473285&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email%20Report%20(CEN24LA169%20-%20Landing%20Gear)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - airport manager (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17472598&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Airport%20Manager-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - flight instructor (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17473295&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20CFI-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17473045&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20240501_FAA_NTSB_Inspector%20Statement-Aircraft%20Accident%20N822CH-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 869 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17473565&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.