# NTSB MIA89IA145: Piper PA-34-200T, N859SC, Miami, FL, May 6, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 5, 1989, 23:07 local (May 6, 1989, 03:07 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.820316, -80.299728 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8203&lon=-80.2997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 19, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32330
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89IA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32330/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89IA145

## Probable cause

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNNION. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS: INADEQUATE INSPECTION PROCEDURE IN PIPER SERVICE BULLETIN #787A.

## 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,service bulletin/letter - performed
  - procedure inadequate, manufacturer (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not possible
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT AFTER THE ACFT HAD TOUCHED DOWN & ROLLED APRX 400 TO 600 FT, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNNION HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THRU THE BARREL NEXT TO THE LOWER END OF THE FILLET. A METALLURGICAL EXAM SHOWED THE FATIGUE HAD ORIGINATED AT THE BASE OF A GRINDING MARK. SEVERAL SECONDARY CRACKS WERE ALSO FOUND WHICH ORIGINATED FROM GRINDING MARKS NEXT TO THE FATIGUE FRACTURE. THE AIRPLANE LOGBOOK SHOWED THE TRUNNION HAD BEEN INSPECTED AT THE LAST 100 HR INSPECTION IAW PIPER SERVICE BULLETIN (S/B) #787A. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ABOUT 80 HRS SINCE THAT INSPECTION. THE S/B REQUIRMENT WAS TO 'PROPERLY CLEAN THE TRUNNION HOUSING OF DIRT AND PAINT AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE HOUSING FOR CRACKS WITH A 10 POWER GLASS AT THE LOWER END OF THE FILLET.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N859SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N859SC-2014-02-26), registration cancelled 2014-02-26, S/N 34-8070303, built 1980 (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: 34-8070303
- Airframe hours: 2323
- Engines: CONTINENTAL L/TSIO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Gulf Flight Center
- Registered owner: Dolphin Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 26, 1989, 80 hours before
- Departed: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL
- Airport: MIA, Miami Intl, runway 9L, 10,500 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,136 total, 564 in this make and model, 2,834 as pilot in command, 217 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA

## 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 19890505038809I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890505038809I), May 5, 1989: Piper PA34200T, Miami, FL, Minor damage. Left main gear folded on rollout. Aircraft veered off runway onto grass. Left main gear failed. Broken trunnion.

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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