# NTSB GAA18CA529: Piper PA46, N178DB, Hartford, CT, August 28, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 28, 2018, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Hartford, CT - Coordinates: 41.737499, -72.648612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7375&lon=-72.6486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98233 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA529 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98233/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98233 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA529 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unstabilized approach and hard landing, which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA 46-350P, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7104620), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the approach, the tower controller instructed him to stay "high and close." Once he turned to final, he reduced the power, and the airplane began rapidly descending. He added that he applied some power and back pressure to arrest the descent rate as he began to flare, but the airplane landed hard and faster than normal. As the nose landing gear touched down, he applied reverse thrust and braked aggressively. Subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount. The pilot reported that postaccident examination revealed that a nose landing gear actuator bolt had sheared off. The pilot reported that the primary cause of the accident was his failure to maintain a stabilized approach, which resulted in a hard landing and higher-than-normal ground speed upon touchdown. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during approach, the control tower instructed him to stay "high and close". Once he turned final, he reduced the power and the airplane began a rapid descent. He added that, he applied some power and back pressure to arrest the descent rate as he began to flare, but the airplane landed hard and faster than normal. As the nose landing gear touched down, he applied reverse thrust and braked aggressively, subsequently, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount. The pilot reported that a post-accident examination revealed that a landing gear actuator bolt, in the nose landing gear, had sheared. The pilot reported that the primary cause of the incident was his failure to maintain a stabilized approach, which resulted in a combination of a hard landing and higher than normal ground speed upon touchdown exacerbated by the force applied as he aggressively applied the brakes and reverse thrust. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N178DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N178DB), registered now, S/N 4636333 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA46 (350P) - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4636333 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 1896 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-35 560 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Prm Enterprises Inc - Registered owner: Prm Enterprises Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 2018 - Departed: MHT, Manchester, NH - Destination: HFD, Hartford, CT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HFD, Hartford-Brainard, runway 20, 4,417 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 11, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,407 total, 540 in this make and model, 3,282 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KHFD ## 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 20180828012429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180828012429A), Aug 28, 2018: Piper PA 46-350P, Hartford, CT, Substantial damage. August 28, 2018 ? Received telecom approximately 0930 local from the centralized regional operations center (roc) regarding an aircraft with collapsed nose… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 19, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98233. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 929 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Pictures (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 698 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-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.