# NTSB ERA12LA505: Piper PA-22-160, N9216D, Bay Minette, AL, August 13, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 2012, 20:45 local (Aug 13, 2012, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Bay Minette, AL - Coordinates: 30.870277, -87.819168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8703&lon=-87.8192&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84659 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA505 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84659/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84659 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA505 ## Probable cause The separation of the tailwheel linkage for reasons that could not be determined because the linkage was not located, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear attach section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-160, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102214), [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-22-160, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102214), [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-22-160, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102214), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot performed seven uneventful full-stop landings; however, during the takeoff that preceded the accident, he felt something abnormal from the tailwheel. During the subsequent landing, the airplane began to drift to the left and could not be controlled with the appropriate brake and rudder inputs. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, and the empennage was substantially damaged when it struck a precision approach path indicator light. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the linkage that attached the tailwheel to the rudder was not attached. The airplane had been operated for about 3 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 3 weeks before the accident. In addition, the airplane was converted from a tricycle to tailwheel configuration and had undergone a complete restoration during the previous 2 years. The tailwheel linkage was not located, and its preaccident condition could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2012, about 2045 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22-160, N9216D, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged while landing at the Bay Minette Municipal Airport, Bay Minette (1R8), Alabama. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot performed seven uneventful full-stop landings; however, during the takeoff that preceded the accident, he felt "something" abnormal from the tailwheel. During the subsequent landing, the airplane began to drift to the left, and could not be controlled with the appropriate brake and rudder inputs. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and the empennage struck a precision approach path indicator light. The elevator, rudder, and right stabilizer sustained substantial damage. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the linkage that attached the tailwheel to the rudder was not attached and could not be found. According to maintenance records, at the time of the accident, the airplane had been operated for about 3,110 total hours and 3 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 3 weeks prior to the accident. In addition, the airplane was manufactured in 1958, converted from a tricycle to tailwheel configuration in 1986, and had undergone a complete restoration during the previous 2 years. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9216D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9216D), registered now, S/N 22-6276, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-6276 - Airframe hours: 3110 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Jose Martinez - Registered owner: Jose Martinez - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 2012, 3 hours before - Departed: 5R4, Foley, AL - Destination: 1R8, Bay Minette, AL - Airport: 1R8, Bay Minette, runway 26, 5,500 × 79 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 18,520 total, 31 in this make and model, 5,900 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 96 total, 96 in this make and model, 51 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: BFM, 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 20120812016999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120812016999A), Aug 12, 2012: Piper PA-22-160, Bay Minette, AL, Substantial damage. During the landing sequence the aircraft began to drift left. Maximum right rudder and full braking was applied. Aircraft entered a left ground loop departing… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84659. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements and Memorandums (item 2, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395855&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20and%20Memorandums%20-Redacted.PDF - FAA 337 Major Repair and Alteration Form (item 3, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395866&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20337%20Major%20Repair%20and%20Alteration%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Photograph # 1 – View of post-accident damage to the empennage (Provided by the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395840&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20post-accident%20damage%20to%20the%20empennage%20(Provided%20by%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.