# NTSB GAA17CA552: Hencken William Pietenpol AIR Camper, N40WH, Franklin, PA, September 21, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 21, 2017, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Franklin, PA - Coordinates: 41.377777, -79.860275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3778&lon=-79.8603&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 April 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA552 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96086/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96086 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA552 ## Probable cause The failure of the weld that connects the left main landing gear and the axle during the takeoff roll. ## 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: [Hencken William PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=7040261), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified; cases with it: [Hencken William PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7040261), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Hencken William PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7040261), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Hencken William PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7040261), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Hencken William PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7040261), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Hencken William PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7040261), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the experimental tailwheel-equipped airplane's left wing dropped. The pilot corrected with right aileron input and back pressure on the control yoke. However, the airplane veered off the runway, bounced, and then impacted the runway in a right-wing-low attitude. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the weld that connects the left main landing gear and the axle had failed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the experimental tailwheel-equipped airplane's left wing dropped. The pilot corrected with right aileron input and back pressure on the control yoke. However, the airplane veered off the runway, bounced, and impacted in a right wing low attitude. Subsequently the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the weld that connects the left main landing gear and the axle failed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40WH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40WH-2019-03-20), registration cancelled 2019-03-20, S/N 40 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HENCKEN WILLIAM PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Hencken William PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER](https://openairdocs.org/model/hencken-william-pietenpol-air-camper) (registry code 7040261) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 40 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 106.7 - Engines: Chevrolet Corvair 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2017 - Departed: FKL, Franklin, PA - Destination: FKL, Franklin, PA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FKL, Venango Rgnl, runway 21, 5,200 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 15, 2017; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 313 total, 12 in this make and model, 231 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KFKL ## 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 20170921021539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170921021539A), Sep 21, 2017: Hencken William PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, Franklin, PA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that, "he taxied to runway 21, slowly brought the power up, using the centerline to the left as reference. The tail came up and started… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96086. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460805&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 489 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%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. --- 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.