# NTSB CHI88IA096: Swearingen SA-227AC, N448CA, Fort Wayne, IN, April 8, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1988, 01:15 local (06:15 UTC)
- Place: Fort Wayne, IN
- Location: 40.9785° N, 85.1952° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FORT WAYNE INTL (FWA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9785&lon=-85.1952&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13992
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88IA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13992/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88IA096

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE STRUT FOR THE INTENDED SERVICE CONDITIONS IN COMMUTER AIR CARRIER OPERATIONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - failure,total
  - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - fatigue (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - overload (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N448CA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N448CA-1994-07-29), registration cancelled 1994-07-29, S/N AC448 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-227AC
- Registry model: [Fairchild SA227-AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-sa227-ac) (registry code 3377509) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AC448
- Airframe hours: 11173
- Engines: GARRETT TPE-331-11U 1000 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Conair
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 24, 1988, 81 hours before
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FWA, Baer Field, runway 32, 8,500 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 7,380 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F
- Observed at: FWA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19880408071569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880408071569I), Apr 8, 1988: Swrngn SA227AC, Fort Wayne, IN, Minor damage. Right main landing gear collapsed while doing a touch and go landing.

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.

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