# NTSB DEN01LA142: Piper PA-60-602P, N44JH, Rock Springs, WY, August 9, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 2001, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Rock Springs, WY - Coordinates: 41.590148, -109.219398 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5901&lon=-109.2194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Field Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52980 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52980/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA142 ## Probable cause the right main tire blowing out in flight, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - landing gear,tire - burst (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane had just taken off and was climbing through 9,000 feet when the pilot heard "a very loud explosive sound" that came from the right side of the aircraft. He returned to the airport and landed. When the airplane touched down, it began veered to the right and the pilot attempted to correct. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and the right main landing gear collapsed, driving it through the top of the wing. Half of the right main tire (30 hours total time in service) and most of its inner tube (with a round section blown out) were found at the point of touch down. Missing was the valve stem. Continuous S-shaped marks indicated the tire came off the rim. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 2001, approximately 1330 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-60-602P, N44JH, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing at Rock Springs, Wyoming. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed for this business flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Rock Springs approximately 1325. The following is based on the pilot's accident report and a prior telephone conversation. The airplane had just taken off and was climbing through 9,000 feet. Immediately after copying his IFR clearance from the FAA air route traffic control center (ARTCC), the pilot heard "a very loud explosive sound" that came from the right side of the aircraft. He ruled out explosive decompression since the cabin was beginning to pressurize. Suspecting a separated wing panel or flight control, or possibly a bird strike, the pilot cancelled his IFR flight plan and informed ARTCC that he was returning to land. When the airplane touched down on runway 09, it began veering to the right and the pilot attempted to correct. The pilot said "dynamic oscillations of the right wheel [caused] vibrations throughout the airframe." The airplane departed the right side of the runway and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right gear was driven through the top of the right wing, and the left and nose gears collapsed. The pilot reported both wings were destroyed and the fuselage was buckled. The pilot and airport personnel walked the length of the runway and found half of the right main tire (30 hours total time in service) and most of its inner tube (with a round section blown out) at the point of touch down. Missing was the valve stem. Continuous S-shaped gouge marks on the runway were consistent with the tire coming off the rim. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44JH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44JH-2015-04-24), registration cancelled 2015-04-24, S/N 62P09028165031 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-60-602P - Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 602P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-602p) (registry code 7106014) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 62P-09028165031 - Airframe hours: 2998 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-U1A 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Roeder-Johnson Corp. - Registered owner: Aircraft Guaranty 101, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 27, 2001, 30 hours before - Departed: RKS, Rock Springs, WY - Destination: MYV, Marysville, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: RKS, Rock Springs-Sweetwater County, runway 09, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 13, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 2,578 total, 520 in this make and model, 2,355 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: RKS 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.