# NTSB MIA00LA067: Swearingen SX300, N54SX, Jekyll Island, GA, January 9, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 9, 2000, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Jekyll Island, GA - Coordinates: 31.040252, -81.410629 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0403&lon=-81.4106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48474 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48474/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA067 ## Probable cause failure of the left main landing gear attachment during the landing/flare touchdown for undetermined reasons, resulting in the loss of directional control and the airplane exiting the runway and colliding with a runway light. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear attachment - failure (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - object - runway light ## Analysis The pilot stated that during the landing touchdown, the left wheel settled and the airplane veered off the runway, incurring damage. According to the pilot, an examination of the airplane and landing area after the accident showed that the left tire was sideways at touchdown. There was a gouge where the left strut dug into the asphalt. A representative of the owner examined the accident aircraft, and stated that the left main landing gear torque link pin boss fractured, which allowed the wheel and axle assembly to rotate outwards, breaking the axle block off at the weld on the oleo piston tube during the landing rollout. ## Factual narrative On January 9, 2000, about 1300 eastern standard time, a Swearingen SX300, N54SX, registered to a private owner, operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on landing at Jekyll Island, Georgia. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Spruce Creek Airport, the same day, about 1115. The pilot stated that upon arrival at the destination airport, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. However, shortly thereafter, the weather conditions changed and he was able to land during visual meteorological conditions. During the landing touchdown, the left wheel settled and the airplane veered off the runway, incurring damage. The pilot further stated that he examined the airplane and the landing area after the accident and there was a scrape showing that the tire was sideways at touchdown. There was also a gouge where the left strut dug into the asphalt, along with the corresponding skid mark from the right main landing gear as he applied the brakes and slid prior to exiting the runway. A representative of the owner examined the accident aircraft, and stated that the left main landing gear torque link pin boss fractured, which allowed the wheel and axle assembly to rotate outwards, breaking the axle block off at the weld on the oleo piston tube during the landing rollout. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54SX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54SX-2001-02-21), registration cancelled 2001-02-21, S/N KMP054 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Swearingen SX300 - Registry model: [Kennedy James A SWEARINGER SX300](https://openairdocs.org/model/kennedy-james-a-swearinger-sx300) (registry code 05606B3) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: KMP054 - Airframe hours: 123 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-L1C5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jim Kennedy - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 1999, 61 hours before - Departed: 7FL6, DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Destination: 09J - Airport: 09J, Jekyll Island, runway 18, 3,711 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,170 total, 128 in this make and model, 6,170 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F - Observed at: SSI, 8 nm away ## 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 20000109013409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000109013409A), Jan 9, 2000: Jekyll Island, GA, No damage. (-23) Left main landing gear failed on landing. Other gear collapsed when the a/c veered off the runway into the grass. 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.