# NTSB GAA15CA187: Hier James A Long EZ, N793H, Show Low, AZ, June 26, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 26, 2015, 06:40 local (13:40 UTC)
- Place: Show Low, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.266944, -109.998886 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2669&lon=-109.9989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91570
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA187
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91570/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91570
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA187

## Probable cause

The right main landing gear leg fracture, which resulted in the landing gear wheel separation and a runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Hier James A LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=056094B), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)
- [Indicating/recording systems: instrument panel   ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023110): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Hier James A LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023110/cases.md?model=056094B), [All aircraft, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023110/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Hier James A LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=056094B), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Hier James A LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=056094B), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Hier James A LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056094B), [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: [Hier James A LONG EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056094B), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the cruise phase of a cross country flight, the oil pressure and oil temperature indicator readings dropped to zero. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing at a nearby airfield. The airplane touched down on the runway and the right main landing gear leg fractured just above the wheel attachment and the wheel separated from the airplane. The main landing gear leg collapsed and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. According to the maintenance logbook entries, the right main landing gear leg had fractured at the point of a previous repair. The airplane had larger tires and brakes installed after the time of the repair to the landing gear leg. The cause of the fluctuations in the oil temperature gauge and oil pressure gauge were not the subject of this investigation. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions, aside from the gauge indications, that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the cruise phase of a cross country flight, the oil pressure and oil temperature indicator readings dropped to zero. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing at a nearby airfield. The airplane touched down on the runway and the right main landing gear leg fractured just above the wheel attachment and the wheel separated from the airplane. The main landing gear leg collapsed and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. According to the maintenance logbook entries, the right main landing gear leg had fractured at the point of a previous repair. The airplane had larger tires and brakes installed after the time of the repair to the landing gear leg. The cause of the fluctuations in the oil temperature gauge and oil pressure gauge was not the subject of this investigation. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions, aside from the gauge indications, that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N793H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N793H-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 926, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HIER JAMES A LONG EZ
- Registry model: [Hier James A LONG EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/hier-james-a-long-ez) (registry code 056094B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 926
- Year built: 1984
- Airframe hours: 588
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-G 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2015
- Departed: CHD, CHANDLER, AZ
- Destination: LVS, LAS VEGAS, NM
- Airport: SOW, Show Low Rgnl, runway 21, 3,938 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 5, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 104 total, 2 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: KSOW

## 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 20150626012629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150626012629A), Jun 26, 2015: Hier James A LONG EZ, Show Low, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot made an emergency landing on rnw 21 at sow. Upon landing the right main landing wheel sheared off of the aircraft. Aircraft continued to skid for 750…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91570. 10.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – Right main wheel (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430729&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20main%20wheel%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Fuselage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 372 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Fuselage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – Landing gear leg (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Landing%20gear%20leg%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 – Logbook entry 1 (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 5, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430732&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20%E2%80%93%20Logbook%20entry%201%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 5 – Logbook entry 2 (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 6, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430733&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20%E2%80%93%20Logbook%20entry%202%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 6 – Logbook entry 3 (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 7, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20%E2%80%93%20Logbook%20entry%203%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-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.

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