# NTSB MIA87IA246: Piper PA-60, N9784Q, W.Palm Beach, FL, September 16, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1987, 03:32 local (07:32 UTC)
- Place: W.Palm Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 26.659662, -80.090858 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6597&lon=-80.0909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31803
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87IA246
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31803/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87IA246

## 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,main gear strut scissors - failure,total (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT ON LANDING AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 1000 FT. THE SCISSORS ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO ROTATE & SKID. HE THEN APPLIED HEAVY LEFT BRAKE TO KEEP THE ACFT STRAIGHT ON THE RUNWAY, BUT THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR LINK FAILED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO ROTATE 90 DEGREES, SUBSEQUENTLY COLLAPSING THE MAIN GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9784Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9784Q-2023-03-25), registration cancelled 2023-03-25, S/N 60-0416-143 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-600) (registry code 8360602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 60416143
- Airframe hours: 5670
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-KIFS 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Top Flight Service,Inc.
- Registered owner: Top Flight Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 8, 1987, 44 hours before
- Departed: MIA, MIAMI, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PBI, Palm Beach Int'L, runway 9L, 7,991 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,251 total, 306 in this make and model, 2,137 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBI

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19870916066019I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870916066019I), Sep 16, 1987: Piper PA60600, West Palm Beach, FL, Minor damage. The left main gear collapsed on landing. Torque link found broken. Link pin PN4000503 had failed. Wheel rotated.

## Other investigations on N9784Q (3)

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 ERA22FA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA351), Aug 2, 2022: Smith Aerostar 600 (N9784Q), South Haven Charter Township, MI, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of power to the left engine due to contamination of the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilots’ failure to properly configure the airplane for flight with one engine…
- [NTSB MIA86IA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86IA069), Feb 2, 1986: Piper PA-60 (N9784Q), Folkston, GA, incident, minor damage
- [NTSB FTW78FRG22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FRG22), Jan 21, 1978: Aerostar 601 (N9784Q), San Antonio, TX, 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.

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