# NTSB DEN89LA138: Piper PA-34-200T, N36345, Las Cruces, NM, June 16, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 16, 1989, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Las Cruces, NM
- Coordinates: 32.219535, -106.989227 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2195&lon=-106.9892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17722
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17722/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA138

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNNION. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS: INADEQUATE INSPECTION PROCEDURE IN PIPER SERVICE BULLETIN #787A.

## 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 strut - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - performed
  - procedure inadequate, manufacturer (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not possible
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THE ACFT THEN VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & WAS FURTHER DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNNION HAD FAILED. THE TRUNNION FAILED IN AN AREA THAT WAS ADDRESSED BY PIPER SERVICE BULLETIN #787A. SERVICE BULLETIN #787A REQUIRED AN INSPECTION OF THE TRUNNION AT THE 1ST 1000 HRS TIME IN SERVICE AND THEREAFTER AT INTERVALS NOT TO EXCEED 100 HRS UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED BY A MODIFIED TRUNNION. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 67 HRS SINCE THE LAST INSPECTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36345](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N36345), registered now, S/N 34-7870321, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7870321
- Airframe hours: 1986
- Engines: CONTINENTAL LTSIO-360 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: North American Ins Of Aviation
- Registered owner: North American Inst. Avia.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 19, 1989, 67 hours before
- Departed: LRU
- Destination: LRU
- Airport: LRU, Las Cruces, runway 12, 7,494 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,540 total, 30 in this make and model, 1,401 as pilot in command, 419 in the last 90 days, 148 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19890616057319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890616057319A), Jun 16, 1989: Piper PA34200T, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. Left main landing gear collapsed on landing roll followed by right main collapse. Trunnion housing had broken.

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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