# NTSB ERA10LA108: Piper PA-32R-300, N8985C, Concord, NC, January 1, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 31, 2009, 20:45 local (Jan 1, 2010, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Concord, NC - Coordinates: 35.391666, -80.708335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3917&lon=-80.7083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 27, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75230 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75230/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75230 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA108 ## Probable cause A missing right main landing gear aft trunnion mount attachment nut. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis While landing following an uneventful flight, the right main landing gear collapsed. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration found that an attachment bolt and retainer assembly had backed out of the aft landing gear trunnion assembly. The landing gear then separated at the aft trunnion. The barrel nut that held the attachment bolt was missing, and was not subsequently located. The inspector also noted no evidence of any pertinent maintenance performed within the previous year. Following the accident, the operator inspected all 30 fleet airplanes with no similar anomalies noted. In addition, all aircraft maintenance technicians were briefed on the accident and alerted to the area where the gear attachment hardware separated. ## Factual narrative On December 31, 2009, about 2045 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N8985C, was substantially damaged while landing at Concord Regional Airport (JQF), Concord, North Carolina. The airplane was registered to Bellefonte, Inc. and operated by Ram Air Freight. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the on-demand cargo flight conducted in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. The flight originated at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Raleigh, North Carolina, at 1945. The pilot reported that he performed an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 20. As the airplane touched down, it “jolted” to the left. As the airplane was heading toward the runway edge, the pilot added power, rotated, and flew back to the runway centerline. With sufficient runway remaining, he closed the throttle, flared, and felt the left main and nose wheels contact the runway, but not the right main. The right wing tip contacted the runway and the pilot used full rudder to maintain directional control. The airplane came to a stop and the pilot exited the cockpit and was assisted by airport personnel. The 2055 weather observation for JQF included the following: 100 feet overcast, surface winds calm, 1/4 statute miles visibility with fog and mist, temperature 8 degrees Celsius, dew point 6 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.03 inches of mercury. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and inspected the airplane with the assistance of an aircraft maintenance technician provided by the operator. Their inspection revealed that the right main landing gear was collapsed. In addition, an AN4-40A attachment bolt, Piper part number 401-335, and retainer assembly, part number 67502-00, had backed out of the aft landing gear trunnion assembly. The landing gear then separated at the aft trunnion. The barrel nut that held the AN4-40A bolt was missing. The missing barrel nut was not located. The inspector also reported that he inspected the maintenance records and found no evidence of recent maintenance to the landing gear that would be associated with the aft trunnion attachment hardware. There were no gear swings or any other recent landing gear maintenance for well over 1 year prior to the accident. All required inspections were complied with, and no anomalies were found in the airplane inspection program. Following the accident, the operator inspected all 30 fleet airplanes with no similar anomalies noted. In addition, all aircraft maintenance technicians were briefed on the accident and alerted to the area where the gear attachment hardware separated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8985C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8985C), registered now, S/N 32R-7680147, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7680147 - Airframe hours: 12664 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Ram Air Freight Inc. - Registered owner: Bellefonte Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 5, 2009, 98 hours before - Departed: RDU, Raleigh, NC - Destination: JQF, Concord, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JQF, Concord Regional, runway 20, 7,400 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 20, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,430 total, 708 in this make and model, 2,295 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 0 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: JQF ## 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 20091231052879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091231052879A), Dec 31, 2009: Piper PA-32R-300, Concord, NC, Substantial damage. Aircraft N8985C landed on runway 20 at Concord regional airport (jqf) @ 2037 local on 12/31/09. During landing touchdown the right main landing gear collapsed… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75230. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 652 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327051&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memo of Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335134&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Memo of Record - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337003&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Correspondence with Ram Air Freight - Jan 2010 (item 4, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Ram%20Air%20Freight%20-%20Jan%202010-Master.PDF - Correspondence with Ram Air Freight - July 2010 (item 5, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Ram%20Air%20Freight%20-%20July%202010-Master.PDF - Correspondence with Piper Aircraft Co. (item 6, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327052&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Piper%20Aircraft%20Co.-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Piper Parts Catalog (item 7, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Piper%20Parts%20Catalog-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Main Landing Gear and Trunion, in Wheel Well (FAA Digital Photo) (item 8, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334100&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20and%20Trunion,%20in%20Wheel%20Well%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Right Main Landing Gear, Removed from Wheel Well (FAA Digital Photo) (item 9, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334101&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Right%20Main%20Landing%20Gear,%20Removed%20from%20Wheel%20Well%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: AN4-40A Bolt (FAA Digital Photo) (item 10, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334102&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20AN4-40A%20Bolt%20(FAA%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF 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.