# NTSB CHI05CA165: Piper PA-22-180, N5807Z, Valparaiso, IN, July 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 4, 2005, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Valparaiso, IN - Coordinates: 41.453887, -87.006942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4539&lon=-87.0069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: South Bend, IN FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61861 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61861/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA165 ## Probable cause The pilot improperly flared the airplane which resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent main gear collapse. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear attachment - overload ## Analysis The airplane experienced a gear collapse during a bounced landing. The pilot stated he was practicing takeoffs and landings when the accident occurred. He stated that the first landing was "fine." The pilot stated that during the second landing touchdown, he heard a "pop." The airplane became airborne again and the right wing raised slightly. He stated he corrected with aileron and the left main gear collapsed as the airplane touched down again. The pilot reported the left wing and the propeller contacted the runway prior to the airplane coming to a stop. The airplane had been converted to a tail wheel aircraft in 1982. The airplane had been flown 84 hours since the conversion. Inspection of the airplane revealed the landing gear strut was compressed and the gear was folded inward under the fuselage. He also stated the axle was pushed through the wheel and the wheel bearings were broken. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2005, at 0745 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22-180, N5807Z, experienced a gear collapse during a bounced landing on runway 18 (4,000 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Porter County Municipal Airport (VPZ), Valparaiso, Indiana. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated at VPZ at 0730. The pilot stated he was practicing takeoffs and landings when the accident occurred. He stated that the first landing was "fine." The pilot stated that during the second landing touchdown, he heard a "pop." The airplane became airborne again and the right wing raised slightly. He stated he corrected with aileron and the left main gear collapsed as the airplane touched down again. The pilot reported the left wing and the propeller contacted the runway prior to the airplane coming to a stop. The airplane had been converted to a tail wheel aircraft in 1982. The airplane had been flown 84 hours since the conversion. The airplane was examined by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration South Bend, Indiana Flight Standards District Office. The inspector reported the landing gear strut was compressed and the gear was folded inward under the fuselage. He also stated the axle was pushed through the wheel and the wheel bearings were broken. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5807Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5807Z), registered now, S/N 22-9662 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-9662 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Russell D. Ingram - Registered owner: Russell D. Ingram - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: VPZ, Valparaiso, IN - Destination: VPZ, Valparaiso, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: VPZ ## 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 20050704024469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050704024469A), Jul 4, 2005: Piper PA22108, Valparaiso, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) Investigation revealed that the landing gear failed at the attach point due to a heavy side load during a crosswind landing. [privacy data omitted] 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.