# NTSB DEN00LA013: Bellanca 8KCAB, N8707V, Grand Junction, CO, October 27, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 27, 1999, 11:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Grand Junction, CO - Coordinates: 39.080516, -108.549812 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0805&lon=-108.5498&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 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47709 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47709/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA013 ## Probable cause A failure of the left main landing gear attachment (u-bolt) due to fatigue. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear attachment - failure,total (cause) - landing gear,main gear attachment - fatigue (cause) - landing gear,main gear - separation - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During landing rollout, the left main landing gear collapsed and separated from the aircraft. The airplane ground looped and departed the runway to the left, turning 180 degrees and coming to rest on its left side. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that the left main landing gear u-bolt failed. The bolt fractured through the bend between the horizontal and vertical leg of the bolt. The fractured surface revealed ratchet marks and crack arrest positions typical of fatigue cracking, while the fractured features on the remaining surface were typical of an overstress failure. The fractured surface of the bolt at the failure initiation area was damaged following the separation and the reason for the fatigue initiation was could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On October 27, 1999, approximately 1135 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N8707V, registered to and operated by Kempton Air Service, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during landing roll at Walker Field, Grand Junction, Colorado. The commercial certificated flight instructor and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at 1100. According to the pilot, after flying for one half of an hour in the local area, he returned to the airport to practice landings. He made a "normal" tailwheel landing on runway 11 and landed 1,000 feet down the runway. He stated that at the time he landed, the wind was light from 110 degrees. During rollout approximately 200 feet down the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed and separated from the aircraft. The airplane ground looped and departed the runway to the left, turning 180 degrees and coming to rest on its left side. The propeller was damaged, and the left wing strut and left rear wing spar were bent. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear u-bolt failed. The u-bolt was sent to the NTSB's Materials Laboratory for examination. According to their report, the bolt fractured through the bend between the horizontal and vertical leg of the bolt. The fractured surface revealed ratchet marks and crack arrest positions typical of fatigue cracking. The fatigue initiated at several origins on the inner radius of the bend and disseminated through approximately 80 percent of the bolt cross section. The fractured features on the remaining fractured surface were typical of an overstress failure. The intact vertical leg was bent outward, creating an approximate 120-degree angle with the horizontal leg. No evidence of cracking was observed on the inner radius surface of the bend between the vertical and horizontal leg. The inner surface of the bolt on each side of the bend between the separated vertical leg and the horizontal leg was rubbed. According to their report, the fractured surface of the bolt at the failure initiation area was damaged following the separation and the reason for the fatigue initiation was unable to be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8707V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8707V), registered now, S/N 190-75, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 190-75 - Airframe hours: 1449 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-320-E1B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kempton Air Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1999, 9 hours before - Departed: GJT, GRAND JUNCTION, CO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: GJT, Walker Field Airport, runway 11, 10,501 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 7,815 total, 47 in this make and model, 7,508 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GJT ## 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 19991027031009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991027031009A), Oct 27, 1999: Bbavia 8KCAB, Grand Junction, CO, Substantial damage. (.19) On October 27, 1999, approximately 1135 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N8707V, operated by kempton air service, was substantially damaged when… 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.