# NTSB ERA12LA195: Piper PA-36-300, N59661, Americus, GA, February 25, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 25, 2012, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Americus, GA - Coordinates: 32.110553, -84.188888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1106&lon=-84.1889&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 October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82981 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82981/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82981 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA195 ## Probable cause The failure of maintenance personnel to properly secure a portion of the right wing leading edge, which resulted in the separation of the associated section of the leading edge during takeoff and the loss of directional control during the subsequent landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wing structure: plates/skins (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730/cases.md?model=7103612), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730/cases.md) - [Wing structure: plates/skins (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730/cases.md?model=7103612), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730/cases.md) - [Maintenance: replacement](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/cases.md?model=7103612), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7103612), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103612), [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-36-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103612), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-300, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103612), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was being operated on a maintenance test flight after the installation of some aerial spray equipment. At an altitude of about 75 feet above ground level, the airplane pulled abruptly to the right. Using the maximum available engine power and left rudder, the pilot maintained control of the airplane and landed on the closest runway. However, after touchdown, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and crossed a taxiway and a ditch before coming to rest about 300 feet from the runway. Postaccident examination revealed that the midspan section of the right wing's leading edge had separated, several screws were absent, and the remaining screws exhibited signs of inconsistent torque. ## Factual narrative On February 25, 2012, about 1615 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-36-300, N59661, was substantially damaged following a loss of control on the ground during landing, after a section of the right wing leading edge separated in flight, at the Jimmy Carter Regional Airport (ACJ), Americus, Georgia. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The maintenance test flight was conducted under the provision of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, the flight departed runway 28 and during the initial climb, about 75 feet above ground level, the airplane pulled abruptly to the right. The pilot applied maximum power and left rudder in order to maintain control of the airplane. During the landing touchdown on runway 5, the airplane veered immediately to the right, departed the side of the runway, crossed a taxiway and a ditch, and then came to rest approximately 300 feet to the right of the runway. According to photographs provided by the operator, the 66 inch midspan section of the fiberglass leading edge had separated along the gang channel. Approximately 18 inches remained at the accident location but was separated from the wing, and the remaining section was not located. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and noted that several of the 92 screws required to hold the midspan section exhibited signs of uneven torque and that two of the screws located on the top inboard corner, and several screws located underside of the leading edge were unable to be located. According to the airplane maintenance records, the most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on August 17, 2011, and the recorded Hobbs time was 4,899.5 hours. The most recent logbook entry was dated October 6, 2011; the recorded Hobbs time was 4,994.5 hours. According to the operator, aerial spray equipment had just been installed; however, no entry for the installation was noted in the maintenance records. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59661](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59661-2022-01-24), registration cancelled 2022-01-24, S/N 36-7760071, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-36-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-300) (registry code 7103612) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36-7760071 - Airframe hours: 7715 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Souther Field Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Souther Field Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 2011, 280 hours before - Departed: ACJ, Americus, GA - Destination: ACJ, Americus, GA - Airport: ACJ, Jimmy Carter Regional Airport, runway 05, 6,011 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 24, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 30,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 29,700 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: ACJ ## 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 20120225005529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120225005529A), Feb 25, 2012: Piper PA-36-300, Americus, GA, Substantial damage. On departure from runway 28 at kacj, aircraft departed controlled flight; the aircraft began an un-commanded roll to the right. The pilot added full power,… ## Other investigations on N59661 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI91DCQ06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91DCQ06), Jun 13, 1991: Piper PA-36-300 (N59661), Oakley, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON(S). ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82981. 8.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368106&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Americus Georgia Weather (item 2, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Americus%20Georgia%20Weather-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Email From Pilot (Excerpt) (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363807&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Email%20From%20Pilot%20(Excerpt)-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Examination (item 4, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368114&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Examination-Master.PDF - Aircraft Logbooks [Excerpts] (item 5, .PDF, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368159&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbooks%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368107&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Leading Edge Screw as Found (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Leading%20Edge%20Screw%20as%20Found%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%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.