# NTSB ERA10LA351: Champion 7ECA, N73PC, Thomasville, GA, June 17, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 2010, 11:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Thomasville, GA - Coordinates: 30.901666, -83.881111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9017&lon=-83.8811&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 April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76564 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA351 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76564/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76564 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA351 ## Probable cause The improper reinstallation of the airplane’s oleo piston assembly during an annual inspection, resulting in the collapse of the right main landing gear during touchdown. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=21101NN), [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. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft inspection event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 229 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/050/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that as the airplane touched down on the runway he heard a "pop" or a "snap" sound. The airplane collided with the runway on its right side and slid down the surface until coming to rest. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a bolt on the right main landing gear was absent. The bolt, which holds the oleo, or shock absorber, unit in the housing, was incorrectly installed above and through the oleo assembly. This resulted in the bolt coming out of the housing, which in turn led to the cylinder and spring overextending out of its respective housing. There was no evidence of fatigue, stress, or corrosion on the failed component. A review of the airframe logbook indicated that the last annual inspection was conducted about 45 days and 3.8 flight hours prior to the accident. The airplane's parts manual stated that after performing maintenance of the oleo the mechanics should be certain that the bolt passes through the retainer at the top end of the oleo. The manual further warned that if this is not done, the oleo will fall out when the airplane takes off. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2010, at 1135 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N73PC, registered to N117VR LLC and operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, experience a right main landing gear oleo strut separation during a wheel landing at Thomasville Regional Airport (TVI), Thomasville, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Merritt Island Airport, Merritt Island, Florida at 0820. The pilot stated upon arrival at TVI he made a radio call on the common traffic advisory frequency and announced his entry into the traffic pattern to runway 04. He completed all before landing checks, slowed the airplane down to 65 mph on final approach, and made a wheel landing. As soon as the main landing gear touched down on the runway, he heard a "pop" or a "snap" sound. The airplane then collided with the runway on its right side and slid down the runway until it came to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed that it received structural damage to the right main landing gear attachment point on the fuselage. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector and airframe and power plant mechanic that inspected the landing gear, the bolt that held the oleo unit in the housing was installed above and through the oleo assembly, which eventually allowed the bolt to fall out of the housing. The oleo (PN 3-665) on the right side failed internally, allowing the cylinder and spring to over extend out of its housing. There was no evidence of fatigue, stress, or corrosion on the failed component. Review of the airframe logbook revealed the last annual inspection was conducted on May 4, 2010, at a tachometer time of 1,353.66 hours. The airplane had flown 3.8 hours since the last annual inspection. The airframe and power plant mechanic who performed the last inspection stated he did not perform any maintenance on the right main landing gear. The previous annual inspection was conducted by a different mechanic on December 10, 2007- at a tachometer time of 1,289 hours. That mechanic indicated in the sign-off that the seals were replaced in the oleo main gear. The airplane had accumulated 69 hours since that inspection. Attempts to locate that mechanic were unsuccessful. No work was performed on the landing gear during the annual inspection conducted on August 12, 2006. Review of the Citabria Maintenance Manual and Parts Manual for the landing gear group states for the OLEO PISTON ASSEMBLY, "This assembly consists of spring, plunger, and hydraulic oil retaining cylinder....If it is necessary to change the graphite packing, release oleo unit from the oleo case assembly by removing the bolt at the top of the oleo case. Drive bushing out of spring retaining washer and remove retainer and oleo spring. Pry the plug at the top of the cylinder loose and remove old packing. Press the new into placearound the piston rod and replace parts. Extreme care should be taken in replacing the oleo in the old case. Be certain that the bolt passes through the retainer at the top end of the oleo. If this is not done, the oleo will fall out when the aircraft takes off." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73PC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73PC), registered now, S/N 7ECA-48 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7ECA-48 - Airframe hours: 1357 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: N117vr LLC - Registered owner: N117vr LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 2010, 4 hours before - Departed: COI, Merritt Island, FL - Destination: TVI, Thomasville, GA - Airport: TVI, Thomasville Regional Airport, runway 04, 5,496 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,397 total, 27 in this make and model, 1,342 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: TVI ## 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 20100617042609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100617042609A), Jun 17, 2010: Champion 7ECA, Thomasville, GA, Substantial damage.  Mr. Wilson holds an FAA commercial pilot certificate and has approximately 26 hours in this make and model aircraft and 1397 hours total time. Mr.… ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76564. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 614 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333958&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334459&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - E Mail Registered Owner (item 3, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334003&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E%20Mail%20Registered%20Owner-Redacted.PDF - Mechanic Component Removal Statement (item 4, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Component%20Removal%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Statement Mechanic Annual Inspection May 2010 (item 5, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20Mechanic%20Annual%20Inspection%20%20May%202010-Redacted.PDF - Extract Logbook Entries (item 6, .PDF, 482 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334004&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20Logbook%20Entries-Redacted.PDF - Extract American Champion Maintenance Manual (item 7, .PDF, 368 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333966&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Extract%20American%20Champion%20Maintenance%20Manual-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 View of accident airplane with damaged oleo housing. Photo Plane Station (item 8, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333953&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20View%20of%20accident%20airplane%20with%20damaged%20oleo%20housing.%20Photo%20Plane%20Station-Master.PDF - Photo 2 Close up view of hyper extended oleo. Photo Plane Station (item 9, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333954&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20Close%20up%20view%20of%20hyper%20extended%20oleo.%20Photo%20Plane%20Station-Master.PDF - Photo 3 View of oleo assembly after removal. Photo Plane Station (item 10, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333955&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20View%20of%20oleo%20assembly%20after%20removal.%20Photo%20Plane%20Station-Master.PDF - Photo 4 View of oleo pulled out of housing with bolt still in place. Photo Plane Station (item 11, .PDF, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20View%20of%20oleo%20pulled%20out%20of%20housing%20with%20bolt%20still%20in%20place.%20Photo%20Plane%20Station-Master.PDF - Photo 5 View of bolt still inside housing. Photo Plane Station (item 12, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20View%20of%20bolt%20still%20inside%20housing.%20Photo%20Plane%20Station-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.