# NTSB LAX96LA055: Schafer Lancair 360, N56DS, Mesa, AZ, November 26, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 1995, 17:10 local (Nov 26, 1995, 00:10 UTC)
- Place: Mesa, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.389881, -111.710021 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3899&lon=-111.7100&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29342
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29342/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA055

## Probable cause

failure of the nose gear strut, during landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear strut - failure,total (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear attach point - overload

## Analysis

The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings. On the last landing, the (lower) nose gear strut failed. The airplane then skidded on the upper strut until it contacted a crack in the runway, then the upper strut failed.

## Factual narrative

On November 25, 1995, at 1710 hours mountain standard time, the nose gear of a homebuilt Schafer Lancair 360, N56DS, collapsed during the landing roll on runway 30L at Williams-Gateway Airport, Phoenix, Arizona.  The pilot was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight.  The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot's wife, sustained substantial damage.  The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at Williams-Gateway Airport at 1610 hours.

The pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings and takeoffs.  On the last landing, the airplane touched down on the main wheels and the nose lowered onto the runway.  About 2 or 3 seconds later, the pilot heard a thump under the tail of the airplane.  Thereafter, the nose gear lowered and the propeller struck the runway.

The pilot was able to raise the airplane's nose momentarily, and as the air speed depleted, the nose lowered again and the airplane skidded down the runway on the upper section of the nose gear strut.  Later, the upper section of the strut lodged in a crack in the runway and broke off.  The airplane subsequently came to a stop after it momentarily became airborne.

The pilot also said in the report that the front "fork to [the] strut attachment [bolts]" failed.  The Safety Board's investigator-in-charge asked the pilot to submit the bolts for metallurgical examination, but he elected not to.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56DS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56DS-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHAFER LANCAIR 360 (LANCAIR 36)
- Registry model: [Schafer Dennis LANCAIR 360](https://openairdocs.org/model/schafer-dennis-lancair-360) (registry code 05620UY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Airframe hours: 204
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sheree Testa
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: IWA
- Airport: IWA, Williams-Gateway, runway 30L, 11,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 25 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19951126038539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951126038539A), Nov 26, 1995: Amtr LANCAIR, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. During touch and go landings nose gear collapsed. Prop hit runway. Strut attach bolts failed.

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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