# NTSB IAD03LA028: Piper PA-46-350P, N9170X, Laconia, NH, January 18, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 2003, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Laconia, NH - Coordinates: 43.572498, -71.418891 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5725&lon=-71.4189&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56360 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD03LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56360/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56360 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD03LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in an impact with a snowbank, and overstress fracture of the nose gear actuator and engine mount foot attachment. A factor in the accident was the icy runway conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,nose gear attach point - fractured - engine assembly,mount - fractured - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - snowbank ## Analysis As the airplane touched down on the runway, it veered "dead left," slid off the runway, and impacted a snow pile. After landing, the pilot noticed that the runway was approximately 85% covered with ice approximately 1/4 - 1 inch thick. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed an overstress fracture of the right foot of the engine mount, and the nose gear actuator lug. A portion of the fracture area also contained signatures indicative of a preexisting fatigue crack. The fatigue region was near but not directly adjacent to the toe of a weld portion of the foot, which was the subject of a Piper Service Bulletin. The Service Bulletin attributed cracks on the engine mount in the area of the nose gear actuator attach feet, to "excessive loads, possibly through hard landings, rough field operations, excessive speed turns and/or improper towing of the aircraft." The Service Bulletin required operators to inspect the engine mounts for cracks after every 100 hours of flight time, until the engine mount was replaced with a newer model which incorporated a one-piece foot at the nose gear actuator attach point. Examination of the aircraft logbooks revealed the Service Bulletin was complied with in April 2002, with no cracks observed. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2003, at 1145 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N9170X, was substantially damaged while landing at the Laconia Municipal Airport (LCI), Laconia, New Hampshire. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight which originated at the Long Island/Mac Arthur Airport (ISP), Islip, New York, about 1030. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that as he approached the Laconia area, he attempted to obtain an airport advisory on the UNICOM frequency, but got no response. He then reported a 45-degree entry to the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 26. He maintained visual contact with a Mooney on final approach, and observed no abnormalities during the Mooney's landing. When the pilot turned from base to final, the pilot noticed that the wind sock indicated no wind, and he prepared for a short field landing. As the airplane touched down, it veered "dead left," slid off the runway, and impacted a snow pile. The pilot reported that after the accident, as he walked to the fixed base operator (FBO), he noticed that the runway was approximately 85% covered with ice approximately 1/4 - 1 inch thick. The pilot stated that he received a weather briefing prior to the flight, which stated the runway at Laconia had been sanded, due to "thin, patchy ice." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. Additionally, the right foot of the engine mount, and the nose gear actuator lug were observed fractured. The fractured portion of the engine mount and nose gear actuator lug were sent to the Safety Board Materials Laboratory. According to the Material Laboratory's Factual Report: "Visual examination of the fracture surface on the engine mount piece revealed that most of the fracture surface areas were on a slant plane and were either clean (bright and shiny), or contained superficial rust colored deposits, features typical of recent overstress fractures. However, the portion of the fracture area indicated by the arrow pair in figures 1 and 2 was on a flat plane and contained very dark discoloration, indicative of a preexisting brittle fracture region such as fatigue cracking. ...The fatigue region was near but not directly adjacent to the toe of the weld between the cylindrical portion and end cap portion of the foot. ...Examination of the lug portion of the nose landing gear actuator revealed features typical of overstress separations. Compression damage was noted on one side of the fracture...This damage and the deformation associated with the fracture were indicative of an overstress fracture from lateral bending loads." Piper Service Bulletin 1103 was issued on April 22, 2002 (an updated Service Bulletin 1103A was issued on January 27, 2003), and addressed engine mount inspections of Piper Malibu and Mirage aircraft. The Service Bulletin attributed cracks on the engine mount in the area of the nose gear actuator attach feet, to "excessive loads, possibly through hard landings, rough field operations, excessive speed turns and/or improper towing of the aircraft. The Service Bulletin required that Piper Malibu operators inspect the engine mounts for cracks at the next scheduled maintenance event, and each 100 hours time in service or annual inspection, thereafter. When cracks were observed, the engine mount was to be replaced with a newly designed model which incorporated a one-piece foot at the nose gear actuator attach point. The original design of the engine mount incorporated a two piece foot welded together at the nose gear actuator attach point. Examination of the aircraft logbooks revealed the Service Bulletin was complied with in April 2002, with no cracks observed. The weather reported at Laconia, at 1155, included winds from 210 degrees at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 7 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point -11 degrees Fahrenheit, and barometric pressure 30.05 inches Hg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9170X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9170X), registered now, S/N 4622018, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-46-350P - Registry model: [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p) (registry code 7104620) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4622018 - Airframe hours: 1880 - Engines: Lycoming L-8974-61A 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James Campagna - Registered owner: Saratoga SP Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 2002, 34 hours before - Departed: ISP, Islip, NY - Destination: LCI, Laconia, NH - Airport: LCI, Laconia Municipal Airport, runway 26, 5,286 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 29, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,315 total, 629 in this make and model, 1,170 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 7 °F, dew point -11 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LCI ## 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 20030118001929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030118001929A), Jan 18, 2003: Piper PA46350P, Laconia, NH, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft made normal approach for landing. Upon landing aircraft turned sharply left and went into snowbank. Substantial damage to aircraft. Nose… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 16, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56360. 705 KB in all. - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 03-059 engine mount, actuator lug (item 1, .PDF, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2003-059%20engine%20mount,%20actuator%20lug-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40202204&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Interview (item 3, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40199931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF - Piper Service Bulletin (item 4, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40199932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Piper%20Service%20Bulletin-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.