# NTSB ERA12LA132: Piper PA-34-200T, N8282P, Shelter Island, NY, January 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 2, 2012, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Shelter Island, NY - Coordinates: 41.066665, -72.343055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0667&lon=-72.3431&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 February 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82599 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82599/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82599 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA132 ## Probable cause A hard landing, which resulted in a failure of the right main and collapse of the left main landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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-34-200T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103406), [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-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that after crossing over trees at the runway threshold, the airplane experienced a downdraft and decay in airspeed. The airplane touched down hard and bounced, and the right main landing gear separated from the airplane. Detailed examination of the landing gear revealed that the retraction arm fractured at its bolt connection, which allowed the oleo strut to rotate, where it sheared at the wheel axle assembly. None of the fracture surfaces exhibited evidence of any preexisting cracks or signatures of fatigue. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 2, 2012, approximately 1500 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N8282P, was substantially damaged during landing at a private airport near Shelter Island, New York. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which originated from Farmingdale Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated that he departed FRG and completed the flight to Shelter Island at an altitude of 1,400 feet. He reported moderate turbulence during the flight, and stated that a nearby airport reported surface winds from 280 degrees at 19 knots. The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern for runway 22, a 1,800-ft-long by 100-ft-wide turf runway, and stated that he crossed over trees at the runway threshold at an indicated airspeed of 87 kts. He stated that after crossing the trees, the airplane experienced a downdraft and decay in airspeed. The airplane touched down "hard" and bounced, and the right main landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane came to rest off the right side, and approximately one-third down runway 22. Postaccident examination by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors revealed that the right main landing gear fractured at the axle hub, and that the right main wing spar sustained substantial damage. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and sea, airplane multiengine land, and rotorcraft-helicopter, in addition to a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot reported 18,548 total hours of flight experience, of which 2,500 hours was in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent flight review was conducted on September 27, 2011 in the accident airplane. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued in December, 2011. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane's most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on August 19, 2011 at a total time of 3,270.07 flight hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated 3,287 total flight hours. The airplane service manual mandated specific 100-hour-interval inspections if the airplane was operated from "soft or unusual terrain." The landing gear were to be inspected for cracks, attachment, damage, and cleanliness, and the wheels inspected for cracks, damage, and chipped rims; as well as damage, corrosion, and lubrication of the bearings. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The 1453 weather observation at Francis S. Gabreski Airport (FOK), located approximately 20 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported winds from 290 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 21 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 5,500 feet, temperature 4 degreesC, dew point -9 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.71 inches of mercury. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Review of the airplane information manual revealed that, given the atmospheric and wind conditions about the time of the accident, the landing distance required to clear a 50-foot obstacle would have been approximately 1,800 feet. The right main landing gear was sent to a private facility, where the components were examined macro-and microscopically. The report stated that the gear retraction arm fractured at its bolt connection, which allowed the oleo strut to rotate, where it sheared at the wheel axle assembly. Analysis of the fracture surfaces did not reveal evidence of any preexisting fatigue cracks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8282P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8282P-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 34-8170022, built 1980 (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: 34-8170022 - Airframe hours: 3287 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Northeastern Aviation Corp - Registered owner: Northeastern Aviation Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 19, 2011 - Departed: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Destination: NA, Shelter Island, NY - Airport: NA, Klenawicus Airfield, runway 22, 1,800 × 100 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 18,548 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 13,456 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 15 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: FOK, 20 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 20120102000019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120102000019A), Jan 2, 2012: Piper PA-34-200T, Shelter Island, NY, Substantial damage. Winds reported in the area at the time of the accident were out of the west in the high teens gusting to high twenties. Airman was landing on runway 22 which… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82599. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Piper Service Manual Excerpt (item 2, .PDF, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Piper%20Service%20Manual%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Airplane as it came to rest (Courtesy FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363565&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Right wheel (Courtesy FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20wheel%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF - InterCity Testing Engineering Report (item 5, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364536&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=InterCity%20Testing%20Engineering%20Report-Redacted.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.