# NTSB ERA12CA232: Piper PA-28R-180, N3779T, Dover, TN, March 15, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 15, 2012, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Dover, TN - Coordinates: 36.400833, -87.991668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4008&lon=-87.9917&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83163 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83163/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83163 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA232 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with an object and a landing gear collapse during the subsequent landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-28R-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was taking off on a turf runway; during the takeoff roll, about the time of rotation, a gust of wind pushed the airplane into a stack of tires that marked the runway’s left boundary. The pilot completed the takeoff; however, the left main landing gear had sustained damage during the impact with the tires. The pilot subsequently returned and landed on the same runway. During the landing, the left side of the airplane settled onto the ground due to the damaged left main landing gear, which resulted in ground contact that substantially damaged the left wing. Postaccident examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded wind at an airport about 30 miles northeast of the accident site was from 250 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots about the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was performing a takeoff on runway 25, a 2,560-foot-long, 30-foot-wide, turf runway. During the takeoff roll, about the time of rotation, a gust of wind forced the airplane left into a stack of tires that marked the runway boundary. The pilot completed the takeoff; however, the left main landing gear had sustained damage during the impact with the tires. The pilot subsequently returned and landed on the same runway. During the landing, the left side of the airplane settled onto the ground due to the damaged left main landing gear, which resulted in ground contact with the left wing and horizontal stabilizer. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The recorded wind at an airport located approximately 30 miles northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 250 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3779T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3779T), registered now, S/N 28R-30091, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30091 - Airframe hours: 5730 - Engines: LYCOMING I0360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hulsart Bruce W - Registered owner: Hulsart Bruce W - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 2011, 52 hours before - Departed: 8TN7, Dover, TN - Destination: CKV, Clarksville, TN - Airport: 8TN7, Short Creek Airport, runway 25, 2,560 × 30 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,270 total, 79 in this make and model, 1,215 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: CKV, 30 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 20120315003049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120315003049A), Mar 15, 2012: Piper PA-28R-180, Dover, TN, Substantial damage. The pilot of N3779T initiated a take off from Short Creek (8TN7), runway 25, shortly after a rain shower. Just before and during rotation, he experienced a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83163. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365450&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo: Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.