# NTSB DEN08LA064: Spartan 7W, N17662, Santa Fe, NM, March 12, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 2008, 11:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Santa Fe, NM - Coordinates: 35.6175, -106.093612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6175&lon=-106.0936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67688 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67688/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA064 ## Probable cause Fatigue failure of the right main landing gear, rendering directional control impossible and causing an overload failure of the left main landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Spartan 7W, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=8430302), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Spartan 7W, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=8430302), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Spartan 7W, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8430302), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Spartan 7W, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=8430302), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Spartan 7W, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=8430302), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing full stop landings and he made a "firm" landing. Shortly thereafter, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane began veering to the right. The pilot made corrective inputs but could not maintain directional control. The airplane departed the runway. The left main landing gear then collapsed. Both wings were bent and the fuselage sustained bulkhead damage. According to NTSB's Materials Laboratory report, the right main landing gear strut "appeared relatively rough and light gray consistent with overstress fracture of a cast aluminum alloy." Examination of the corner radius where the outboard support flange intersects the vertical tube "showed areas with a smooth faceted appearance with curving boundaries consistent with fatigue." Examination of the fractures faces of the left main landing gear strut "showed features indicative of overstress separation...An area of the fracture surface was smooth and shiny, features consistent with smearing associated with the compression side of an overstress fracture in bending." ## Factual narrative On March 12, 2008, at 1140 mountain daylight time, a Spartan 7W, N17662, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when the main landing gear collapsed during a stop and go landing on runway 33 at Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The local flight originated at SAF approximately 1030. According to the pilot's accident report, he was practicing full stop landings on runway 33. The airplane landed "firmly" on the main landing gear and on centerline. Shortly thereafter, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane began veering to the right. The pilot made corrective inputs but could not maintain directional control. The airplane departed the runway. The left main landing gear then collapsed. Both wings were bent and the fuselage sustained bulkhead damage. The airplane was removed from the runway, taken to a hangar, and placed on jacks. Both left and right main trunions were sent to NTSB's Materials Laboratory for examination. According to the metallurgist's factual report, the fracture surfaces of the right main landing gear strut "appeared relatively rough and light gray consistent with overstress fracture of a cast aluminum alloy." Examination of the corner radius where the outboard support flange intersects the vertical tube "showed areas with a smooth faceted appearance with curving boundaries consistent with fatigue." The fracture faces of the left main landing gear strut "showed features indicative of overstress separation...An area of the fracture surface was smooth and shiny, features consistent with smearing associated with the compression side of an overstress fracture in bending." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17662](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17662), registered now, S/N 28, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Spartan 7W - Registry model: [Spartan 7W](https://openairdocs.org/model/spartan-7w) (registry code 8430302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28 - Airframe hours: 9410 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985AN-14-8 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald E. Tarrson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2008, 2 hours before - Departed: SAF, Santa Fe, MA - Destination: SAF - Airport: SAF, Santa Fe Municipal, runway 33, 6,307 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 5,037 total, 60 in this make and model, 4,985 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 10 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: SAF ## 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 20080312012059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080312012059A), Mar 12, 2008: Spartn 7W, Santa Fe, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 12, 2008 at approximately 1120 MDT, a spartan 7W, N17662, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the right main landing gear… 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.