# NTSB ERA18LA182: Piper PA 25, N6307Z, Flat Rock, AL, June 30, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 30, 2018, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Flat Rock, AL - Coordinates: 34.74472, -85.68972 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7447&lon=-85.6897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97656 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97656/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97656 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA182 ## Probable cause The failure of the right landing gear during takeoff due to a fatigue failure, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=7102502), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=7102502), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-25, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102502), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-25, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102502), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight. During the takeoff roll and before becoming fully airborne, the right main landing gear (MLG) “snapped,” followed by the right wing dropping and striking the runway. As the right wing and propeller dug into the turf, the airplane spun, departed the runway, and subsequently impacted hay bales before coming to rest. The fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged. Examination of the right steel spring MLG revealed that it had broken off cleanly at the wheel and displayed features that were indicative of a fatigue failure. No maintenance records were available for examination, and the service history of the right MLG could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2018, about 1045 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25, N6307Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Leon’s Landing Airport (4AL7), Flat Rock, Alabama. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. According to the pilot, at takeoff, the airplane had 120 gallons of chemicals and 30 gallons of fuel onboard. During the takeoff roll about 40 mph, the tail lifted off the turf runway. When the airplane reached 65 mph, the right main landing gear (MLG) “snapped,” and the right wing to dropped and struck the runway. As the right wing and propeller dug into the turf, the airplane spun, departed the runway, and subsequently impacted hay bales before coming to rest. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage aft of the cockpit was twisted and wrinkled, the right wing leading edge was crushed, and the right steel spring MLG was collapsed. Examination of the right MLG revealed that it had broken off cleanly near where it attached to the wheel. The wheel, along with the lower portion of the MLG leg, had separated from the airplane and rolled into a swamp, and it was not recovered. The remaining fracture surface on the upper portion of the right MLG leg exhibited shear lips and ratchet marks with multiple origins of fatigue. The operator stated that, since recently purchasing the airplane, it had only been operated about 200 hours before the right MLG failed. He thought that the previous owner had sent out the right MLG for overhaul; however, the previous owner stated that he had not done so and that it must have been the previous owner. He added that he only owned the airplane for a short time when he realized that, although airworthy, “it was in rough shape,” so he sold it. None of the airplane’s maintenance logbooks were available for review. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6307Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6307Z-2018-09-17), registration cancelled 2018-09-17, S/N 25-391, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 25 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Piper PA-25](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25) (registry code 7102502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-391 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 4543 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Blackstone Aircraft LLC - Registered owner: Blackstone Aircraft LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 2018 - Departed: 4AL7, Flat Rock, AL - Destination: 4AL7, Flat Rock, AL - Airport: 4AL7, Leon's Landing Airport, runway 16, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 23, 2017; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 16,056 total, 207 in this make and model, 76 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: K4A6, 16 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 20180630015769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180630015769A), Jun 30, 2018: Piper PA-25, Flat Rock, AL, Substantial damage. During the takeoff roll, prior to rotation, the pilot heard a noise followed by a drop of the right wing. The right Landing gear leg dug into the turf causing… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97656. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6716740&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operators%206120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_FAA (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11641926&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_FAA-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_operator and previous owner (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11647852&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Operator%20and%20Previous%20Owner-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and airplane damage (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11642447&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-Rel.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.