# NTSB FTW97LA368: Bellanca 7KCAB, N88314, Englewood, CO, September 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 19, 1997, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Englewood, CO - Coordinates: 39.579513, -104.860626 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5795&lon=-104.8606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 26, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20360 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA368 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20360/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA368 ## Probable cause failure of the right main landing gear due to multiple fatigue cracks. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear strut - fatigue (cause) - landing gear,main gear strut - failure (cause) ## Analysis According to the pilot, a normal wheel landing was made. When the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear broke off and struck the leading edge and bottom surface of the right wing. The airplane slid off the right side of the runway and ground looped. Metallurgical examination of the fractured strut disclosed 'fatigue from multiple sites on the bottom surface in the bend radius outboard of (where it attaches to the fuselage).' There was 'no obvious mechanical damage/corrosion damage.' The left landing gear also exhibited 'cracks in the same area and on the inboard side of the clamp.' The landing gear was replaced on January 14, 1984, at a total service time of 1,390 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accrued 3,624 hours, a difference of 2,234 hours. ## Factual narrative On September 19, 1997, approximately 1420 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, N88314, operated by Barnstormers Aero Services, Inc., was substantially damaged during a touch and go landing at Englewood, Colorado. The airline transport-rated pilot in command and a private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Englewood approximately 1400. According to the pilot in command's accident report, the pilot receiving instruction (who was seated in the front seat) made a normal wheel landing on runway 28 at Centennial Airport. When the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear broke off and struck the leading edge and bottom surface of the right wing. The airplane eventually slid off the right side of the runway onto the grass and groundlooped, causing additional damage to the right wing tip. The fractured right main landing gear strut and intact left main landing gear strut were sent to NTSB's metallurgical laboratory for examination. According to the metallurgist, the failure was "definitely fatigue from multiple sites on the bottom surface in the bend radius outboard (where it attaches to the fuselage)." There was "no obvious mechanical damage/corrosion damage." The left strut also exhibited "cracks in the same area and on the inboard side of the clamp." The airplane maintenance records disclosed the landing gear had been replaced on January 14, 1984, at a total service time of 1,390 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accrued 3,624 hours, a difference of 2,234 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88314](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88314), registered now, S/N 482-74, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 7KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab) (registry code 1220701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 482-74 - Airframe hours: 3624 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-E2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Barnstormers Aero Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 12, 1997, 7 hours before - Departed: APA - Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 28, 4,904 × 62 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 19,800 total, 1,150 in this make and model, 15,100 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19970919047889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970919047889A), Sep 19, 1997: Bbavia 7KCAB, Englewood, CO, Substantial damage. (-16) Aircraft ground looped. Damage resulted after landing gear failed. Examination revealed a pre-existing crack in the spring landing gear in a hidden area.… ## Other investigations on N88314 (3) 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 LAX87LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA224), May 30, 1987: Bellanca 7KCAB (N88314), Fremont, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX84LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA006), Oct 6, 1983: Bellanca 7KCAB (N88314), Fremont, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK75FVW21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75FVW21), Jun 1, 1975: Bellanca 7KCAB (N88314), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage 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.