# NTSB ERA16LA121: Piper PA46, N1982F, Brunswick, GA, March 1, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 1, 2016, 15:43 local (20:43 UTC) - Place: Brunswick, GA - Coordinates: 31.151666, -81.391113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1517&lon=-81.3911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 15, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Piper Aircraft Inc, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92798 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92798/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92798 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA121 ## Probable cause A hard landing, which resulted in the collapse of the nose gear assembly due to an overstress fracture and separation of the right side mounting point. ## 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [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-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, after a normal landing on the main landing gear in gusty quartering headwind conditions, the nose gear touched down and he heard a "pop," then he "started losing control of the airplane." The nose continued to drop past the normal landing attitude while the pilot applied back pressure to the yoke and focused his attention on stopping the airplane and maintaining directional control. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the nose landing gear revealed that the actuator was extended 6.8 inches, consistent with the nose gear being down and locked. This area of the nose gear assembly displayed gouging and missing material consistent with ground impact. The nose landing gear assembly was attached on the left side; however, the bolt was bent and the right side mounting point was fractured and separated from its attachment point, displaying fracture features consistent with overstress failure, which was likely the result of a hard landing. ## Factual narrative On March 1, 2016, at 1543 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N1982F, was substantially damaged after a nose gear collapse during landing rollout at McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport (SSI), Brunswick, Georgia. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed from Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH), Marathon, Florida, about 1330.The pilot stated that during the first approach to runway 16 at SSI, he performed a go-around due to some conflicting traffic in the airport traffic pattern. During the second approach, he configured the airplane the same as the first approach, with the manifold pressure at 16 inches, landing gear extended, and flaps extended 36° on final approach while trying to maintain an airspeed of 85 to 90 knots. The automated surface observation system was reporting the wind varying between 140° and 190° at 10 knots; however, the pilot observed the wind sock and a flag at that airport and estimated the wind speed as stronger, gusting up to 15 knots. As the airplane approached the runway, the wind gusts appeared stronger and he had difficulty keeping the airplane level. Just prior to touchdown, the pilot felt left-quartering wind gusts, and as the airplane touched down on the main landing gear, the landing appeared to be normal. Then, as the nose gear touched down, he heard a "pop" and then started "losing control of the nose." The nose continued to drop and he applied aft pressure on the control wheel and attempted to maintain directional control until the airplane came to a stop. He then instructed the passengers to evacuate and he performed the emergency procedures for shutdown, then egressed the airplane. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and that to the best of his knowledge, the main landing gear remained on the ground after touchdown. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that it had incurred substantial damage during the landing. The area of the nose landing gear bay exhibited crush damage with, the firewall was deformed, the wing leading edges were dented, and the fuselage displayed areas of compression buckling of the top and sides just forward of the windscreen. The nose landing gear assembly was attached on the left side, however the attaching bolt was bent and the right side mounting point was broken and separated from its attachment point. The nose landing gear actuator extended 6.8 inches, which according to the airframe manufacturer, was consistent with extension to the down and locked position. This area of the nose gear assembly displayed gouging and missing material consistent with ground impact. One of the composite propeller blades had separated near the root, and the other twoblades exhibited damage at the tips, as well as scraping along the leading edges. Examination of runway 16 revealed scrape marks consistent with propeller strikes along the centerline, about 800 feet from the threshold. There were 15 scrapes in a row, each about 12 inches long, oriented perpendicular to the runway. The row was about 15 feet long. About 2,000 feet down the runway and 20 feet to the right of the centerline, similar propeller scrapes were observed followed by longitudinal scars about 20 feet long, consistent with the color of the cowling in the nose gear area. No marks were observed for the next 150 feet, where the longitudinal scrapes resumed at the runway's right edge and continued another 250 feet to where the airplane came to rest on the paved area along the right side of the runway. According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 2012. The airplane's most recent 100 hour inspection was completed on October 14, 2015. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accumulated 569 total hours of flight time. The recorded wind at SSI, at 1553, was from 150° at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1982F (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA46 (350P) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4636556 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 568.8 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AE2A 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Valaqsur LLC - Registered owner: Valaqsur LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 14, 2015, 42 hours before - Departed: MTH, MARATHON, FL - Destination: SSI, Brunswick, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SSI, Mckinnon St Simons Island, runway 16, 3,313 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 9, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,544 total, 255 in this make and model, 4,436 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: SSI ## 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 20160301000429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160301000429A), Mar 1, 2016: Piper PA 46-350P, Saint Simons Is, GA, Substantial damage. On March 1, 2016 the pilot of N1982F was on a routine flight from marathon, Florida to saint Simons Island, Georgia with two additional persons on board. The… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92798. 9.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Wreckage Examination Documentation (item 3, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466572&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Documentation-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 7 photos, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF - Landing Gear Fracture Photos (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 334 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Landing%20Gear%20Fracture%20Photos-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 574 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466575&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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.