# NTSB GAA19CA174: Piper PA32R, N5544F, Atmautluak, AK, March 21, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 21, 2019, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Atmautluak, AK - Coordinates: 60.863887, -162.273895 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8639&lon=-162.2739&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99150 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99150/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99150 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA174 ## Probable cause The airplane's encounter with a snow-covered pothole during taxi. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: hidden/submerged object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while taxiing to the runway for departure, he felt a "large bump." The pilot immediately shut down the engine and inspected the airplane. He identified damage to the right wing and landing gear. The pilot further reported that he inspected the taxiway after he saw the airplane's damage and noted that the large bump he felt was due to the right landing gear's encounter with a snow-covered pothole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while taxiing to the runway for departure, he felt a "large bump." The pilot immediately shutdown the engine and inspected the airplane. He identified damage to the right wing and landing gear. The pilot further reported that he inspected the taxiway after he saw the airplane's damage, and the large bump he felt was the right landing gear encounter with a snow-covered pothole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5544F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5544F), registered now, S/N 32R-7780014, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA32R (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1g5d) (registry code 41598, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7780014 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 2421.8 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Yute Commuter Service - Registered owner: Michael W Renfro - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 28, 2019 - Departed: BET, Bethel, AK - Destination: 4A2, Atmautluak, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 4A2, Atmautluak, runway 33, 3,000 × 75 ft, gravel - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 13, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,183.9 total, 458.8 in this make and model, 1,153.9 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 125 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Not reported - Wind: 30° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.29 inHg - Observed at: PABE, 14 nm away ## 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 20190321014979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190321014979A), Mar 21, 2019: Piper PA-32R-300, Atmautluak, AK, Substantial damage. Airman was back taxing a PA-32R-300 on runway 33 at Atmautluak airport in Alaska. The airman hit a pot hole that was covered with snow. According to the airman… ## Other investigations on N5544F (1) 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 DEN78FQD33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FQD33), Aug 26, 1978: Piper PA-32R (N5544F), Timberon, NM, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 10, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99150. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471814&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471815&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.