# NTSB ERA16LA052: Beech 95 B55, N600VP, Albany, NY, November 22, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 22, 2015, 13:17 local (18:17 UTC) - Place: Albany, NY - Coordinates: 42.748611, -73.805557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7486&lon=-73.8056&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92370 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92370/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92370 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA052 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper flare while landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing, overstress fracture of the nose landing gear trunnion, and a subsequent nose landing gear collapse. ## 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: [Beech 95-B55, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1152705), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1152705), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=1152705), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=1152705), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/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: [Beech 95-B55, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1152705), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that, while on approach for landing, he lowered the landing gear and confirmed that all three landing gear indicator lights were illuminated. He noted that there was a "slight" crosswind, and, upon touchdown, he felt an "unusual" nose wheel shimmy before the nose landing gear trunnion fractured and the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the fracture surfaces revealed failure due to overstress with no preexisting conditions contributing to the failure. The airport's automated weather observation recorded a 40° crosswind at 16 knots with gusts to 25 knots about the time of the accident. It is likely that, while landing in gusting wind conditions, the pilot allowed the airplane's nose landing gear to contact the runway hard, which resulted in the overstress fracture of the trunnion and the resulting gear collapse. ## Factual narrative On November 22, 2015, at 1317 eastern standard time, a Beech 95 B55, N600VP, was substantially damaged following a nose landing gear collapse during landing at Albany International Airport (ALB), Albany, New York. The private pilot/owner was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.In a telephone interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated that the preflight inspection and the flight to Albany revealed no mechanical or performance deficiencies with his airplane. While on approach for landing on runway 28, the pilot lowered the landing gear and confirmed that all 3 green landing gear lights were illuminated. He noted there was a "slight" crosswind and upon touchdown, he felt an "unusual" nose wheel shimmy. The pilot stated he applied back pressure on the yoke to relieve weight off the nose landing gear, and the airplane lifted off "slightly" from the runway. Upon the second touchdown, the nose wheel shimmy resumed, he again applied back pressure on the yoke, but when the nose gear eventually touched down, it collapsed. The nose enclosure and the propellers struck the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land and instrument airplane. His most recent second-class Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate was issued on May 19, 2014. The pilot reported 800 total hours of flight experience, of which 157 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. The airplane was manufactured in 1974, and its most recent annual inspection was completed on December 23, 2014, at 2,012 total aircraft hours. At 1326, the weather recorded at ALB included winds from 320 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 25 knots. Examination of photographs revealed that the nose landing gear trunion was fractured, and the trunion segments were examined in the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, DC. The fork portion had sustained gross plastic deformation and had fractured into two parts. The fracture surface was consistent with overstress. No evidence of any preexisting conditions that may have contributed to the failure were observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N600VP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N600VP-2018-03-14), registration cancelled 2018-03-14, S/N TC-1805, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 95 B55 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Beech 95-B55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55) (registry code 1152705) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-470-series) (registry code 17044, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-1805 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 2012 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2014, 36 hours before - Departed: ISP, Islip, NY - Destination: ALB, Albany, NY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ALB, Albany Intl, runway 28, 7,200 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 800 total, 157 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 16 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KALB ## 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 20151122022959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151122022959A), Nov 22, 2015: Beech 95-B55, Albany, NY, Substantial damage. 11/23/2015 The Albany flight standards district office (FSDO) investigated an accident at Albany international airport (alb). The accident was reported to aea… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92370. 633 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Memorandum for Record (item 1, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452266&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452267&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary%20(FAA)-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory (item 4, .PDF, 3 photos, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452270&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Evidence Control Form (item 6, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452271&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-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.