# NTSB ERA17LA253: Waco UPF 7, N134Q, Brunswick, GA, July 3, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 2017, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Brunswick, GA - Coordinates: 31.151945, -81.391113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1519&lon=-81.3911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95626 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95626/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95626 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA253 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear strut brace for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuselage: gear attach fittings (on fus)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035343): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035343/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035343/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that, while taxiing for takeoff, the right main landing gear (MLG) strut brace broke at the fuselage attachment point, which resulted in the right MLG collapsing and the outboard portion of the lower right wing sustaining substantial damage. The pilot moved the airplane from the taxiway, repaired the strut brace by welding it back onto the fuselage where it had broken, and then towed the airplane to his hangar. The pilot's welding of the strut brace back onto the fuselage at the point where it had broken precluded an examination of the fracture surfaces. The reason for the strut's failure could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Factual narrative On July 03, 2017, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Waco UPF 7, N134Q, experienced a landing gear collapse while taxing at the McKinnon St Simons Island Airport (SSI), Brunswick, Georgia. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.According to the pilot, while taxiing for takeoff the right landing gear strut brace failed at the fuselage attachment point. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to a complete stop on the taxiway. He inspected the airplane and noted that the right outboard lower wing was buckled. The pilot later received permission from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector to remove the airplane from the taxiway. He hoisted the airplane, repaired the strut brace and towed the airplane back to the hangar. Examination the airplane by a Federal Aviation administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the outboard section of the lower right wing was substantially damaged. Examination of the landing gear strut brace revealed that it broke at the fuselage attachment point. Further examination revealed that the pilot had welded the strut back onto the airplane at the point where it had broken, which prevented a more detailed examination of the fracture surface. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N134Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N134Q), registered now, S/N 5484, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WACO UPF 7 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Waco UPF-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-upf-7) (registry code 9601302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5484 - Year built: 1940 - Airframe hours: 35 - Engines: CONT MOTOR W670 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 6, 2017 - Departed: SSI, Brunswick, GA - Destination: SSI, Brunswick, GA - Airport: SSI, Mckinnon St Simons Island - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2016; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 25,000 total, 10,100 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 136 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 81 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 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 20170703008839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170703008839A), Jul 3, 2017: Waco UPF-7, St. Simons, GA, Substantial damage. On July 3rd at approximately 4:30PM EST. Pilot was taxing to runway 35 at St. Simons airport (kssi), with passengers on board for a sight seeing flight in Waco… ## Other investigations on N134Q (2) 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 ANC95LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA143), Aug 18, 1995: Waco UPF-7 (N134Q), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNLOCKED ENGINE PRIMER AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. - [NTSB SEA94LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA110), Apr 27, 1994: Waco UPF-7 (N134Q), Lander, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND INADVERTENT VFR INTO IMC. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95626. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 505 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472110&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.