# NTSB ERA23LA378: Cirrus Design SR20, N177EM, Savannah, GA, May 25, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 25, 2023, 18:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Savannah, GA - Coordinates: 32.127583, -81.202139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1276&lon=-81.2021&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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193127 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA378 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193127/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193127 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA378 ## Probable cause Failure and collapse of the nose landing gear during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2130000), [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-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cirrus Design SR20, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2130000), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. He reported that during his second landing and subsequent takeoff, he felt a vibration in the nose landing gear and decided that he would make the next landing a full stop and taxi back to the fixed base operator. During the third landing attempt the airplane touched down, the pilot heard a “snap,” as the nose landing gear settled onto the runway, and the nose landing gear then collapsed. Security video of the landing showed that the airplane landed normally, and after several seconds of landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to a stop on the runway. The airplane’s firewall, engine mounts, and lower fuselage structure were substantially damaged. The airplane was subsequently removed from the runway and stored in a hangar at the airport. The hangar later caught fire and the airplane was destroyed. An examination of the nose landing gear components could not accomplished. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N177EM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N177EM-2024-11-06), registration cancelled 2024-11-06, S/N 1045, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 - Registry model: [Cirrus Design SR20](https://openairdocs.org/model/cirrus-design-sr20) (registry code 2130000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1045 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 2974 - Engines: Continental IO-360-ES6B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aero Davis LLC - Registered owner: Aero Davis LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 20, 2023, 40 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SAV, Savannah/Hilton Head Intl, runway 10, 9,351 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 3, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 321 total, 24 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: SAV - METAR: METAR KSAV 301753Z 10015KT 10SM SCT030 SCT075 BKN090 28/17 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP131 CB DSNT SW T02830172 10289 20217 58006= ## 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 20230525013839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230525013839A), May 25, 2023: Cirrus Design Corp SR20, Savannah, GA, Minor damage. Savannah, GA (sav): [privacy data omitted], SR20, experienced a nose gear collapse while landingon runway 10. Aircraft will be towed to the ramp. POB: 1,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193127. 112 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16307945&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N177EM%20NTSB%206120%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 764 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16307955&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RJ%20SIGNED%20STATEMENT%20(1)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_director of operations (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16308966&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Dir%20of%20Ops-Rel.pdf - Video of landing and gear collapse (item 4, MP4, 108 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16308499&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=N177EM%20Landing%2020230525-Rel.mp4 - Photo array_N177EM (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16308020&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_N177EM-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.