# NTSB LAX92LA171: Piper PA-34-200, N41632, Tucson, AZ, April 10, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1992, 13:46 local (20:46 UTC)
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.150787, -110.929771 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1508&lon=-110.9298&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27596
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27596/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA171

## Probable cause

THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR STRUT (TRUNNION) DUE TO FATIGUE.  A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS RELATED TO THE INADEQUATELY PERFORMED RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION.

## 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 strut - fatigue (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear strut - failure,total (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - sign
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, WHO WAS DEMONSTRATING HER COMPETENCY TO THE DESIGNATED PILOT EXAMINER FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING HER MULTIENGINE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE, NO ANOMALIES OCCURRED WITH THE AIRPLANE DURING THE FLIGHT.  THE LANDING APPEARED NORMAL EXCEPT THAT DURING ROLLOUT THE GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED LIGHT TURNED OFF.  THE GEAR WARNING HORN SOUNDED AND THE LEFT GEAR BROKE OFF THE AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, IT VEER OFF THE RUNWAY, AND THEN COLLIDED WITH A SIGN.  EXAM OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR REVEALED IT POSSESSED A PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACK ON THE TRUNNION'S OUTER DIAMETER SURFACE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE LOWER FILLET RADIUS OF THE WEB. THE CRACK HAD ENLARGED TO A WIDTH OF 1.25 INCHES BEFORE THE TRUNNION FINALLY SEPARATED.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED ABOUT 53 FLIGHT HOURS AND ABOUT 1.5 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41632](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41632-1994-06-22), registration cancelled 1994-06-22, S/N 347450142 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-74501432
- Airframe hours: 2646
- Engines: LYCOMING LIO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Atc Flight Center, Inc.
- Registered owner: Atc Flight Center, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 27, 1992, 53 hours before
- Airport: TUS, Tucson International, runway 11, 9,129 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 349 total, 54 in this make and model, 221 as pilot in command, 134 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19920410009669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920410009669A), Apr 10, 1992: Piper PA34200, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Left main gear broke on landing due to old fatigue crack propagated. Had recent annual.

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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