# NTSB CHI95LA171: Piper PA-23-250, N40540, Plymouth, MI, June 5, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 1995, 15:57 local (19:57 UTC) - Place: Plymouth, MI - Coordinates: 42.370857, -83.459098 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3709&lon=-83.4591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9903 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9903/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA171 ## Probable cause the failure of the nose wheel collar assembly as a result of the loss of a bolt. ## 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 - landing gear,nose gear assembly - failure,total (cause) - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - missing (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN NORMALLY ON ITS MAIN LANDING GEAR, BUT WHEN THE NOSE GEAR TOUCHED DOWN, THE AIRPLANE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND EXITED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PRIVATE PILOT STUDENT, WHO WAS AT THE CONTROLS, ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE AIRPLANE BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY. DESPITE HIS USE OF THE RUDDER AND BRAKES, THE STUDENT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, CROSSED THE RUNWAY, AND EXITED THE RUNWAY ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SLID SEVERAL FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAR ASSEMBLY HAD SEPARATED. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF A SECTION OF THE FAILED COLLAR SHOWED FEATURES REPRESENTATIVE OF AN OVERSTRESS SEPARATION ON ONE OF THE ATTACH HOLES WHICH WAS STILL FASTENED TO THE INTACT HALF BY A BOLT. THE OTHER ATTACH HOLE CONTAINED ONLY SLIGHT INDICATIONS OF THREAD IMPRINTS IN THE HOLE BUT SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF DEFORMATION. THE SHIMMY DAMPENER INSIDE THE COLLAR ALSO DISPLAYED DAMAGE. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 1995, at 1557 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23- 250, N40540, was substantially damaged when it landed hard and exited the side of the runway at the Mettetal Canton Airport, Plymouth, Michigan. The instructor and private pilot student reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. The flight originated from Willow Run Airport, Detroit, Michigan, at 1540. The instructor reported the airplane touched down normally on its main landing gear, but when the nose gear touched down, the airplane immediately veered to the right and exited the side of the runway. The private pilot student, who was at the controls, attempted to bring the airplane back onto the runway. Despite the student pilot's use of rudder and brakes, he was not able to regain control of the airplane. The airplane veered sharply to the left, crossed the runway, and exited the runway on the left side. The nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid several feet before coming to rest. Postaccident examination revealed the nose wheel collar assembly (P/N 752 915) had separated. Only one half of the collar assembly was located during the investigation. This failed section was sent the NTSB Materials Laboratory, Washington, D.C., for examination. The laboratory reported features representative of an overstress separation on the portion of the fractured collar which was still fastened to the intact half by a bolt and nut. The other attach hole contained only slight indications of thread imprints in the hole but showed no evidence of deformation to indicate that a bolt was in the hole at the time the collar half separated. The shimmy dampener inside the collar also displayed damage. See attached Metallurgist's Factual Report and Piper Aztec Service Manual inserts. The airplane log book shows the last inspection was an annual inspection performed on February 14, 1995. The airplane has logged 61.4 hours since the inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40540](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40540-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N 27-7405276 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-7405276 - Airframe hours: 3678 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Timothy K. Gleason - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 1995, 61 hours before - Departed: YIP, DETROIT, MN - Destination: 1D2 - Airport: 1D2, Mettetal-Canton Airport, runway 18, 2,500 × 45 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,800 total, 42 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 19950605048019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950605048019A), Jun 5, 1995: Piper PA23250, Canton, MI, No damage. (-23) On June 5, 1995, at 1625 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N40540, owned by tkg aviation and piloted by timothy k. gleason and robert e. folks,… 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.