# NTSB ERA09CA213: Piper PA32, N81912, Merritt Island, FL, March 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 20, 2009, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Merritt Island, FL - Coordinates: 28.339721, -80.686386 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3397&lon=-80.6864&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73550 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73550/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA213 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103209), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103209), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103209), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103209), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing takeoffs and landings on runway 29 to maintain her currency. During the third landing, the airplane departed the right side of the 75-foot-wide runway. The pilot reported that the rudder pedals were mushy after touchdown, during landing rollout, and that the airplane did not respond to her inputs to the left rudder pedal. However, the left rudder controls and nosewheel steering were operational when the pilot commanded the airplane to turn hard left to return to the runway pavement. Impact with the runway edge collapsed the nose gear. The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 040 degrees at 10 knots. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane received substantial damage to the nose gear, firewall, propeller, and fuselage. No preexisting mechanical deficiencies were identified with the airplane's steering, brakes or flight controls. On a previous flight in the same airplane three months prior to the accident, the pilot reported that the "nose wheel steering seemed squirrely as the airplane veered to the right and rudder pedal inputs were mushy." After that flight, maintenance on the airplane included replacing the left brake pads and tightening the nuts securing the nosewheel. Other pilots who recently flew the accident airplane reported nothing unusual with the nosewheel steering, but that the airplane was a "handful" during landings. ## Factual narrative The certificated private pilot of the Piper PA-32-301T was performing takeoffs and landings on runway 29 to maintain her currency. During the third landing, the airplane departed the right side of the 75 foot-wide runway. The pilot reported that the rudder pedals were mushy after touchdown, during landing roll out, and that the airplane did not respond to her inputs to the left rudder pedal. However, the left rudder controls and nose wheel steering were operational when the pilot commanded the airplane to turn hard left to return to the runway pavement. Impact with the runway edge collapsed the nose gear. The pilot reported a total flight time of 464 hours, including 364 hours in the accident airplane. The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 040 degrees at 10 knots. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, and a certificated mechanic with Inspection Authorization (IA) revealed that the airplane received substantial damage to the nose gear, firewall, propeller, and fuselage. Neither the FAA inspector nor the IA identified any pre-existing mechanical deficiencies with the airplane's steering, brakes or flight controls. On a previous flight in the same airplane three months prior to the accident, the pilot reported that the "nose wheel steering seemed squirrely as the airplane veered to the right and rudder pedal inputs were mushy." After that flight, maintenance on the airplane included replacing the left brake pads and tightening the nuts securing the nose wheel. Other pilots who recently flew the accident airplane reported nothing unusual with the nose wheel steering, and that the airplane was a "handful" during landings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81912](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N81912), registered now, S/N 32-8124027 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32 (301T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-301t) (registry code 7103209) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-8124027 - Airframe hours: 2907 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Servant Air Ministries, Inc - Registered owner: Servant Air Ministries, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 2008, 50 hours before - Departed: COI, Merritt Island, FL - Destination: COI, Merritt Island, FL - Airport: COI, Merritt Island Airport, runway 29, 3,601 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 464 total, 364 in this make and model, 405 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: COF, 9 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 20090320857319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090320857319A), Mar 20, 2009: Piper PA-32-301T, Merritt Island, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that she was doing stop and go's for currency. As she touched down for the third time the rudder pedals became "mushy" and the aircraft would not… 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.