# NTSB CHI02LA056: Piper PA-32-300, N666DE, Olathe, KS, December 25, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 25, 2001, 10:16 local (16:16 UTC) - Place: Olathe, KS - Location: 38.8476° N, 94.7376° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at JOHNSON COUNTY EXEC (OJC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8476&lon=-94.7376&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Kansas City, Missouri-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53951 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53951/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing resulting in the overload of the nose gear fork. The overload failure of the nose landing gear fork, the embankment, and the remedial action not possible were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor) - landing gear,nose gear - failure (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was damaged when it went off of the left side of the runway, crossed a parallel taxiway and went down an embankment during landing. The pilot stated that when he applied the brakes during the landing, "...it felt like the left brake 'grabbed' and jerked me to the left. While still on the runway I applied power and right rudder to try to straighten me out. I immediately [went] left very quickly on to the grass." Subsequent to the accident, the nose landing gear fork was found fractured in two places near the attachment to the strut portion of the landing gear. No other anomalies were found with respect to the airplane, or its systems that were determined to have existed prior to impact. The nose landing gear fork was examined by the National Transportation Safety Board's Materials Laboratory. The fork was found to have deformation consistent with excessive lateral loading. The fracture surfaces were examined and both fractures exhibited signatures consistent with overstress. No evidence of fatigue or preexisting damage was found. ## Factual narrative On December 25, 2001, at 1016 central standard time, a Piper PA-32-300, N666DE, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during landing on runway 18 (4,099 feet by 75 feet, concrete) at the Johnson County Executive Airport (OJC), Olathe, Kansas. The airplane went off of the left side of the runway, crossed a parallel taxiway and went down an embankment. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not on a flight plan and was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot and his one pasasenger were not injured. The local flight originated at an undetermined time. In a written statement, the pilot said that he landed on the centerline of runway 18 at OJC and when he applied the brakes, "...it felt like the left brake 'grabbed' and jerked me to the left. While still on the runway I applied power and right rudder to try to straighten me out. I immediately [went] left very quickly on to the grass." The airplane crossed a taxiway, down an embankment and impacted in a creek. A postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted. The nose landing gear fork was found fractured in two places near the attachment to the strut portion of the landing gear. No other anomalies were found with respect to the airplane, or its systems that were determined to have existed prior to impact. The nose landing gear fork was examined by the National Transportation Safety Board's Materials Laboratory. The fork was found to have deformation consistent with excessive lateral loading. The fracture surfaces were examined and both fractures exhibited signatures consistent with overstress. No evidence of fatigue or preexisting damage was found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N666DE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N666DE-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 32-7540161, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (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: 32-7540161 - Airframe hours: 2788 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cherokee LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2001, 42 hours before - Departed: OJC, OLATHE, KS - Destination: OJC - Airport: OJC, Johnson County Executive, runway 18, 4,099 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 1, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 261 total, 12 in this make and model, 231 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: OJC ## 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 20011225035169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011225035169A), Dec 25, 2001: Piper PA32300, Olathe, KS, No damage. (-23) Upon landing, pilot began to apply brakes, and aircraft veered left off runway surface. The aircraft then crossed the parallel taxiway and down into the… ## Other investigations on N666DE (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA06FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06FA024), Nov 23, 2005: Piper PA-32-300 (N666DE), Mims, FL, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to improper installation of the #2 cylinder by maintenance personnel, which resulted in the separation of the cylinder as a result of fatigue cracking of the cylinder to… 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.