# NTSB IAD99LA003: Piper PA-34, N1025U, Teteboro, NJ, October 4, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 1998, 18:04 local (22:04 UTC) - Place: Teteboro, NJ - Location: 40.8501° N, 74.0608° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at TETERBORO (TEB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8501&lon=-74.0608&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 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44162 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD99LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44162/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA003 ## Probable cause the collapse of the landing gear due to a bent gear locking mechanism for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - bent (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined - landing gear,nose gear assembly - collapsed (cause) - gear down and locked - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign ## Analysis The airplane landed on the runway at the completion of a training flight. During the landing roll the nose gear collapsed. The airplane lost directional control, departed the left side of the runway, and collided with signs before coming to rest in the grass. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector revealed damage to the bungee assembly of the down lock link assembly, which did not allow the overcenter link to lock the gear down. In a written statement, the Inspector said,...'Bungee [assembly]...failed at rod end...not allowing overcenter link to lock gear down. This was due to possible hard landing prior to this flight bending bungee rod [assembly].' ## Factual narrative On October 4, 1998, at 1804 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34, N1025U, was substantially damaged after a loss of control during landing at the Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and the airline transport rated flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight that originated at 1745. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the flight instructor said: "...after a training flight we were heading back to TEB. We completed all the check lists prior to landing. Everything was normal. On short final, we made a final check; props full forward, gear down, three green and one in the mirror. Touchdown was smooth and on centerline. About 6 to 10 seconds after landing while on rollout the nose gear collapsed and [I] tried to maintain directional control...I did for a few seconds then the aircraft drifted to [the] left. As a result of this, the left wing struck taxiway signs. The impact slowed us down and [the] aircraft came to a full stop in the grass." The wreckage was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector. In a telephone interview, the Inspector stated the gear collapsed because it was not fully locked in the down position. He said the gear would not fully lock because of a defect in the gear mechanism. Examination of the nose landing gear revealed pre-existing damage to the bungee assembly of the down lock link assembly. The Inspector said the damage would be difficult to detect during preflight and the pilot would still "...get three green lights..." when he positioned the gear selector to the down position. In a written statement, the Inspector said: "Bungee [assembly]...failed at rod end...not allowing overcenter link to lock gear down. This was due to possible hard landing prior to this flight bending bungee rod [assembly]." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1025U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1025U-2016-08-17), registration cancelled 2016-08-17, S/N 34-7250005, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34 - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7250005 - Airframe hours: 4415 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-CIE6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vec Corporation Of Delaware - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 12, 1998, 60 hours before - Departed: TEB - Airport: TEB, Teterboro Airport, runway 1, 3,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,250 total, 50 in this make and model, 2,136 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TEB ## 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 19981004027919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981004027919A), Oct 4, 1998: Piper PA34200, Teterboro, NJ, Substantial damage. Acft nose gear collapsed on landing and the acft struck two twy signs. (-23)acft landed on runway 1 on centerline 600 ft shy of 3000 ft mark. Nose gear… ## Other investigations on N1025U (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 LAX74DUM11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX74DUM11), Nov 15, 1973: Piper PA-34 (N1025U), Santee, CA, substantial damage 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.