# NTSB ERA12LA518: Meyers OTW-160, N26490, Worton, MD, August 16, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2012, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Worton, MD - Coordinates: 39.27222, -76.125 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2722&lon=-76.1250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84745 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA518 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84745/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84745 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA518 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare and the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a hard 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyers OTW-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5650208), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyers OTW-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=5650208), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyers OTW-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=5650208), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Meyers OTW-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5650208), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Meyers OTW-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=5650208), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Meyers OTW-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5650208), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the student pilot's approach to a turf runway in the vintage biplane was normal; however, the landing flare was high and the touchdown was firm. After touchdown, the right main landing gear upper strut arm separated, which resulted in a collapse of the right main landing gear. Metallurgical examination of the fractured upper strut arm revealed the tube was buckled and bent and had fracture features consistent with overstress and bending of the tube in one direction. No evidence of preexisting cracking or fatigue was noted. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2012, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Meyers OTW-160, N26490, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a landing gear collapse, while landing at a private airstrip in Worton, Maryland. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Wright Field (MD11), Chestertown, Maryland, about 1420. The CFI reported that after fueling at MD11, they flew back to the student pilot's home airstrip to practice landings. The student pilot's approach to the turf runway was normal; however, the flare was "slightly high" and the touchdown was "slightly firm." After touchdown, the right main landing gear upper strut arm separated, which resulted in a collapse of the right main landing gear. The right wing subsequently impacted the ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in a vertical position on the runway. The CFI further stated that there appeared to be a preexisting crack on the right main landing gear upper strut arm, and that paint had hid the crack from visual inspection. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The inspector retained the fractured upper strut arm and forwarded it to the NTSB Materials Laboratory, Washington, DC, for further examination. Metallurgical examination of the fractured upper strut arm revealed the tube was buckled and bent and had fracture features consistent with overstress and bending of the tube in one direction. No evidence of preexisting cracks or fatigue was noted. The winds were reported as calm during the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26490](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26490), registered now, S/N 43, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MEYERS OTW-160 - Registry model: [Meyers OTW-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/meyers-otw-160) (registry code 5650208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Kinner R5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kinner-r5-series) (registry code 37504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 43 - Airframe hours: 1015 - Engines: KINNER R56 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Guthrie Thomasw - Registered owner: Guthrie Thomasw - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 8, 2012, 16 hours before - Departed: MD11, Chestertown, MD - Destination: NONE, Worton, MD - Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, runway 33, 2,800 × 90 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 60; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 18,998 total, 16 in this make and model, 2,713 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: none; seat: rear; flight hours: 37 total, 37 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: APG, 15 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 20120816017279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120816017279A), Aug 16, 2012: Meyers OTW-160, Whorton, MD, Substantial damage. Instructor was teaching landings, after touch down the right shock strut tube broke. This caused the right gear to collapse. The right wing tip struck the… ## Other investigations on N26490 (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 CHI84LA365](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA365), Aug 27, 1984: Meyers OTW (N26490), New Athens, OH, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84745. 1.4 MB in all. - Materials Laborator Factual Report (item 1, .PDF, 308 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laborator%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 870 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382507&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382508&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1: Damage to Right Side Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382510&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%3A%20%20Damage%20to%20Right%20Side%20Fuselage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph # 2: Right Main Landing Gear (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382511&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%202%3A%20%20Right%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph # 3: Right Main Landing Gear Upper Strut Arm (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382512&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%203%3A%20%20Right%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20Upper%20Strut%20Arm%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.