# NTSB CEN25LA015: Piper PA-30, N7967Y, New Orleans, LA, October 16, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 16, 2024, 08:18 local (13:18 UTC) - Place: New Orleans, LA - Coordinates: 30.04043, -90.029151 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0404&lon=-90.0292&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 195330 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195330/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195330 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA015 ## Probable cause The failure of a landing gear torque arm which resulted in a landing gear collapse and runway excursion. ## 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-30, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on approach he extended the landing gear, and the three green landing gear indication lights were illuminated; however, he noted that the gear took longer to extend than expected. There was a minimal crosswind, the wind was not gusting, and he lowered the right wing into the crosswind. Upon touch down, the right wing dropped and contacted the runway then the nose gear collapsed, and the gear warning horn sounded. The airplane continued off the right side of the runway and came to rest upright in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing spar. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left torque arm for right gear and nose gear was broken. The nose gear push pull rod and rod end for the right gear push pull cable was detached from the left torque arm. The right torque arm for the left gear was intact. The rod end for the left gear push pull cable was still attached and functional. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7967Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7967Y), registered now, S/N 30-1065, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1065 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hot Springs Flyers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 14, 2024, 5.2 hours before - Departed: HDC, Hammond, LA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: NEW, Lakefront, runway 36L, 6,879 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Heads up display, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 33,500 total, 2,033 in this make and model, 25,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 22 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KNEW, 1 nm away - METAR: KNEW 161253Z 04022KT 10SM CLR 15/06 A3028 RMK AO2 PK WND 05033/1229 SLP247 T01500061 ## 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 20241016017349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241016017349A), Oct 16, 2024: Piper PA-30, New Orleans, LA, Substantial damage. On 10/16/2024 PIC was conducting part 91 operations of a Piper PA30 twin comanche as he was approaching knew airport for landing. Weather briefing from noaa at… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195330. 21.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 11.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17970832&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17970577&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photos-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17978917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20exam%20summary_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airplane service manual excerpt (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17970173&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pages%20from%20Twin%20Comanche%20Service%20Manual-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 8.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18030005&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20release%20(signed)_Redacted-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.