# NTSB CHI03LA199: Aviat A-1B, N700KY, Okobojo, SD, July 5, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 2003, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Okobojo, SD - Coordinates: 44.76361, -100.721946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7636&lon=-100.7219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57436 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57436/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA199 ## Probable cause The failure of the float strut during a water landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - landing gear,float assembly - failure (cause) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage when the landing gear strut on the left front float failed. According to the pilot, when the airplane touched down in the water he heard a crack from the left front of the airplane. The pilot reported that as the airplane slowed it began to lean to the left. The pilot stated that a boater helped him pull the airplane to the shore. An examination of the landing gear and strut revealed that "no evidence of a pre-existing metal problem." ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2003, about 1430 central daylight time, an Aviat A-1B, N700KY, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when the wing strut failed upon landing on Lake Oahe near Pierre, South Dakota. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed from the Pierre Regional Airport (PIR), Pierre, South Dakota, about 1400 and had the Bismarck Municipal Airport, near Bismarck, North Dakota, as its final destination. The flight was landing on Lake Oahe for a stop over at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he and a passenger were about 30 miles north of PIR and were going land on the Oahe Reservoir. The pilot reported making "a high recon approximately 100 yards from east shore then low recon, set up on downwind, base, final." The pilot stated that upon landing that he "heard a crack from [the] left front. As we slowed and [the] nose began to drop the [aircraft] began [a] slow lean to [the] left." According to the pilo, the airplane continued to lean until the left wing tip touched the water. A boater assisted the pilot in bringing the aircraft to the shore. The pilot reported a failure of the landing gear strut on the left front float. At 1453, the PIR recorded weather was: Wind 140 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 32 degrees C; dew point 17 degrees C; altimeter 29.82 inches of mercury. PIR is located about 25 miles south-southeast of the accident site. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane. An inspector stated, "... No evidence of a pre-existing metal problem could be determined." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N700KY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N700KY-2008-01-07), registration cancelled 2008-01-07, S/N 2072, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat A-1B - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2072 - Airframe hours: 144 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Larry Teuber - Registered owner: Spring Canyon Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2003, 30 hours before - Departed: PIR, PIERRE, SD - Destination: BIS, BISMARCK, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 21, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 3,085 total, 40 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: PIR, 25 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 20030705016109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030705016109A), Jul 5, 2003: Aviat A1B, Okobojo, SD, Substantial damage. (-23) At about 1430 CDT on 7-5-03, pilot was landing on the Missouri river north of pierre, SD when left front float strut failed. Left wing then contacted the… 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.