# NTSB DEN88LA039: Piper PA-38-112, N23497, Las Cruces, NM, December 19, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 19, 1987, 13:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: Las Cruces, NM
- Coordinates: 32.219707, -106.989532 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2197&lon=-106.9895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17427
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17427/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA039

## 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 attachment - fatigue (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - separation

## Analysis

WHILE PRACTICING CROSSWIND LANDINGS THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE STUDENT TOUCHED DOWN NORMALLY WITH APRX 5 KNOT CROSSWIND. UPON TOUCH DOWN, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR INBD RETENTION BOLT HAD FAILED CAUSING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FROM THE ACFT. METALLURGIST EXAMINATION OF THE BROKEN BOLT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A PROGRESSIVE FAILURE. THE BOLT WAS PIPER PART NUMBER 402 742.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23497](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23497-2004-03-29), registration cancelled 2004-03-29, S/N 38-81A0145, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112
- Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 38-81A0145
- Airframe hours: 1835
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Waide P. Noel
- Registered owner: Southwest Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 12, 1987, 1 hours before
- Departed: LRU, LAS CRUCES, NM
- Destination: LRU
- Airport: LRU, Crawford, runway 30, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 9,833 total, 400 in this make and model, 9,633 as pilot in command, 101 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELP, 43 nm away

## 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 19871219075179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871219075179A), Dec 19, 1987: Piper PA38112, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. Student had a hard crosswind landing. Right gear sheared off. Main gear attachment bolt had failed.

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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