# NTSB LAX88LA122: Piper PA-34-200T, N1555X, Lower Lake, CA, March 11, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1988, 17:30 local (Mar 11, 1988, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Lower Lake, CA
- Coordinates: 38.879959, -122.549369 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8800&lon=-122.5494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25959
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25959/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA122

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - fatigue (cause)
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - not followed, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not possible
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG THE LNDG ROLL, THE LEFT MAIN LNDG GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY, FURTHER DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNNION HAD FAILED. IT HAD FAILED DIAGONALLY APRX 5 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNNION & 2 INCHES BELOW THE ROTATING AXIS. A METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED PREEXISTING FATIGUE WHERE THE FRACTURE OCCURRED. THE TRUNNION HAD BEEN IN SVC FOR APRX 4081 HRS OF OPERATION. PIPER SVC BULLETIN #787A, DATED 8/15/85, ADDRESSED THE POSSIBILITY OF CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE AREA OF THE FAILURE. IT RECOMMENDED THAT AFTER THE 1ST 1000 HRS IN SVC, TRUNNIONS BE INSPECTED AT INTERVALS NOT TO EXCEED 100 HRS UNTIL REPLACED. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS DATED 3/8/88, BUT THERE WAS NO LOGBOOK ENTRY TO INDC THE INSPECTIONS HAD BEEN COMPLETED. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ONLY 4 HRS SINCE THE LAST INSPECTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1555X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1555X), registered now, S/N 34-7570284, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-7570284
- Airframe hours: 4082
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-E 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Barradas, Francis A.
- Registered owner: Barradas, Francis A
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 8, 1988, 4 hours before
- Departed: RDD, REDDING, CA
- Airport: 209, Pearce Fld, runway 12, 2,485 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,642 total, 982 in this make and model, 820 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19880310011659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880310011659A), Mar 10, 1988: Piper PA34200T, Lower Lake, CA, Substantial damage. Left main landing gear collapsed on landing. Trunnion had broken into 3 pieces. Service bulletin not performed.

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.

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