# NTSB MIA97LA201: Grumman G-164, N10273, Altha, FL, July 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 1997, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Altha, FL - Coordinates: 30.569517, -85.119079 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5695&lon=-85.1191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38304 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38304/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA201 ## Probable cause The failure of the left main landing gear spring due to a preexisting fatigue crack resulting in the separation of the left main landing gear, and subsequent nose down during taxi. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - landing gear,main gear spring - failure,total (cause) - landing gear,main gear spring - fatigue - Gear collapsed, taxi - Nose down, taxi ## Analysis The pilot stated he was taxing out for takeoff when the left main landing gear separated. The airplane came to rest on the nose and the left wing. Fuel started leaking from the fuel tank, and the airplane was consumed by a post crash fire. Examination of the left main landing gear spring revealed the landing gear failed due to a preexisting fatigue crack. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 1997, about 0830 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164, N10273, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight, experienced a failure of the left main landing gear on taxi and nosed down on the ground. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated he was taxing out to conduct an engine run-up before departing on a positioning flight to pick up a load of chemical before departing on an aerial application flight. As he started to turn around the left main gear separated. The airplane came to rest on the nose and left wing. Fuel started leaking out of the fuel tank and the airplane was consumed by fire. A portion of the left main landing gear spring was forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for analysis. A fracture was located about 2 to 3 inches inboard of the fuselage skin. A visual magnified examination of the fracture revealed a small preexisting fatigue crack emanating from the lower surface of the spring about 3.5 inches from the leading edge. Closer examination established that the fatigue area was made up of four fatigue cracks, two of the larger had joined to form a single front. See Metallurgist's Factual Report No. 97-134. The left main landing gear spring was released to Mr. Donald T. Johnson, on August 18 , 1997, and signed for by A. Golden, on August 20, 1997. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10273](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10273-1998-12-17), registration cancelled 1998-12-17, S/N 73 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G-164 - Registry model: [Grumman G-164](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164) (registry code 3952702) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 073 - Airframe hours: 11000 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald T. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 1996, 200 hours before - Departed: N/A - Destination: N/A, CAMPBELLTON, FL - Airport: runway 36, 2,000 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 9,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 8,500 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MAI, 34 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 19970702016659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970702016659A), Jul 2, 1997: Scwzer G164, Altha, FL, Destroyed. Left main landing gear spring broke while taxiing. Four fatigue cracks found. Aircraft nosed up. Fuel caught fire. (-23) as pilot was taxiing aircraft out,… ## Other investigations on N10273 (1) 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 ATL92LA129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA129), Jun 21, 1992: Grumman G-164 (N10273), Donalsonville, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND HIS FAILURE TO DETECT WATER IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM. 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.