# NTSB ERA19LA169: Hawker Siddeley Hunter, N343AX, Newport News, VA, May 9, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 9, 2019, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Newport News, VA
- Coordinates: 37.131942, -76.493057 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1319&lon=-76.4931&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO, Lortie Aviation, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99408
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99408/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99408
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA169

## Probable cause

The failure of the right main landing gear due to a fatigue cracking.

## 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: [Hawker Siddeley HUNTER MK.58, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=4230313), [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: [Hawker Siddeley HUNTER MK.58, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=4230313), [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.

- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Hawker Siddeley HUNTER MK.58, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=4230313), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Hawker Siddeley HUNTER MK.58, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=4230313), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting a training flight under the supervision of a flight instructor in a second airplane. Following a touch-and-go landing, the landing gear was retracted; however, the right main landing gear indicated unsafe. After consultation with the flight instructor, the pilot again attempted to lower the landing gear and then observed a normal indication that all three landing gear were down and locked into position. As the pilot turned onto the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he noticed a hydraulic warning light. The flight instructor also noticed fluid streaming from the right side of the airplane. Shortly thereafter, the pilot noted low hydraulic pressure and it was decided he would conduct a no-flap landing, utilizing the remaining hydraulic pressure to boost the flight controls. Immediately upon touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot was unable to control the airplane and it veered off the right side of the runway before stopping. The right main landing gear strut was broken in two parts. Examination of the broken right gear components revealed small crack features consistent with a preexisting progressive crack at the base of the aft pivot pin bore. It is likely that the preexisting fatigue crack in the landing gear propagated to the point of failure. The crack also likely became large enough for hydraulic fluid to leak following the touch-and-go landing and failed catastrophically when the airplane touched down during the final landing.

## Factual narrative

On May 9, 2019, at 1015 eastern daylight time, a Hawker Siddeley Hunter MK-58, N343AX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Newport News-Williamsburg International (PHF), Newport News, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a public aircraft for the instructional flight. An operator’s flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was initial training for the recently hired pilot. The flight instructor observed the flight and provided the pilot verbal instructions from another MK-58, which he flew in formation with the accident airplane. The mission briefing, preflight inspection, takeoff, and en route phases of the flight were unremarkable. The flight then returned to PHF to practice touch-and-go landings. According to the pilot, following a touch-and -go landing, the right main landing gear indicated unsafe after retraction. After consultation with the flight instructor, the pilot again lowered the landing gear and then observed a normal indication that all three landing gear were down and locked into position. As the pilot turned onto the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he noticed a hydraulic warning light. The flight instructor also noticed fluid streaming from the right side of the airplane. Shortly thereafter, the pilot noted low hydraulic pressure and the decision was made to conduct a no-flap landing, utilizing the remaining hydraulic pressure to boost the flight controls. Immediately upon touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the pilot deployed the brake parachute. The pilot was unable to control the airplane and it veered off the right side of the runway and came to a complete stop. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right main landing gear strut was broken into two parts. The right main landing gear upper trunnion strut was examined at the National Transportation Safety Board NTSB) Materials Laboratory. Examination of the fracture surfaces revealed features consistent with a preexisting progressive crack on the main fitting fracture surface at the base of the aft pivot pin bore.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N343AX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N343AX-2019-09-05), registration cancelled 2019-09-05, S/N 41H-697450, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HAWKER SIDDELEY HUNTER (MK58)
- Registry model: [Hawker Siddeley HUNTER MK.58](https://openairdocs.org/model/hawker-siddeley-hunter-mk-58) (registry code 4230313) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce AVON MK207](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-avon-mk207) (registry code 54224, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 41H-697450
- Year built: 1959
- Airframe hours: 2604
- Engines: Avon 203/7 10150 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Public use
- Operator: Airborne Tactical Advantage Company
- Registered owner: Hunter Aviation International Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 26, 2019, 80 hours before
- Departed: PHF, Newport News, VA
- Destination: PHF, Newport News, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PHF, Newport News/Williamsburg Intl, runway 25, 8,003 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Heads up display, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; flight instructor, private, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 8, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,000 total, 5 in this make and model, 8,438 as pilot in command, 202 in the last 90 days, 142 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: phf

## 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 20190509004259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190509004259A), May 9, 2019: Hawker Siddeley HUNTER MK.58, Newport News, VA, Substantial damage. A/c declared an emergency due to hydraulic issues. Aircraft landed runway 25, skidded off the runway and went into the grass between taxiway a and runway 20.…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99408. 18.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10121754&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20N343AX%20Final_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's and wingman statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10121632&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Wingman%20statement%20N343AX-Rel.pdf
- 19-077 - Materials lab factual report (ERA19LA169) (item 3, PDF, 24 pages, 21 photos, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9609485&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=19-077%20-%20Materials%20Lab%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA19LA169)-Rel.pdf
- Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 4, PDF, 17 pages, 7.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10121817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20party%20form%20LA169_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Evidence control form (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10615091&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form%20Material%20lab%20LA169_Redacted-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.

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