# NTSB MIA94LA140: Luscombe 8E, N71128, Deland, FL, May 14, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 14, 1994, 14:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place: Deland, FL
- Coordinates: 29.060632, -81.230941 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0606&lon=-81.2309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 10, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37546
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37546/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA140

## Probable cause

CORROSION AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT.

## 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 - corroded (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear strut - cracked (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear strut - failure,total (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE LUSCOMBE 8E WAS EQUIPPED WITH A LYCOMING O-320 ENGINE (150 HP) AND WAS BEING USED TO TOW GLIDERS.  WHILE LANDING AFTER A GLIDER RELEASE, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT FAILED AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.  AN EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED LANDING GEAR STRUT INDICATED IT WAS RUSTED ON THE INSIDE AND A PREEXISTING CRACK WAS PRESENT AT THE POINT OF FAILURE.

## Factual narrative

On May 14, 1994, about 1425 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8E, N71128, registered to Elizabeth B. Burbank, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 glider tow flight, crashed on landing at the Bob Lee Airport, Deland, Florida. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot received a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Deland, Florida, at 1415.

The pilot stated that on landing touchdown the left main landing gear wheel separated when the gear strut failed. The remainder of the strut dug into the grass runway and the aircraft nosed over on to its back.

Examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors indicated the left landing gear strut was rusted and had a preexisting crack at the point the lower strut and main wheel separated. Water had been trapped inside the strut tube. No drain holes were present in the tube.

The holder of the Luscombe FAA Type Certificate stated that the strut has several bolt holes through it. The strut "sweats" internally causing water to build up in the lower part of the strut. Rust then forms, resulting in strut failure due to cracking.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71128](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71128-1995-01-03), registration cancelled 1995-01-03, S/N 2555 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LUSCOMBE 8E
- Registry model: [Luscombe 8E](https://openairdocs.org/model/luscombe-8e) (registry code 8190112) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2555
- Airframe hours: 6257
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Burbank, Elizabeth B.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 1993, 11 hours before
- Departed: 1J6
- Destination: 1J6
- Airport: 1J6, Bob Lee Flight Strip, runway 9, 3,300 × 72 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,406 total, 250 in this make and model, 1,405 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 30,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAB, 14 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 19940514011069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940514011069A), May 14, 1994: Luscom STC8LUSCOM, Deland, FL, Substantial damage. Landing after glider tow left main gear failed. Nosed over. Gear tube had pre existing crack. Rusted by sweating.

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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