# NTSB MIA98LA145: Piper PA-23-250, N154CH, Fruitland Park, FL, April 26, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 1998, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Fruitland Park, FL - Coordinates: 28.849508, -81.899543 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8495&lon=-81.8995&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38509 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38509/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA145 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to attain the proper rate of descent at touchdown. ## Analysis After a report of a normal touchdown on the grass runway, the right main landing gear fork and rod assembly failed. The right wing dropped, contacted the runway, and the airplane veered to the right and collided with obstructions. Metallurgical examination of the failed fork and rod assembly, and AN bolt, revealed that the fork failed due to overstress and the bolt failed in shear. No preexisting cracks were noted in the failed fork or bolt. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 1998, about 1340 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N154CH, registered to Caesair, Inc., experienced failure of the right main landing gear on landing at the Flying Palomino Ranch Airstrip, near Fruitland Park, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated about 1315, from the Orlando International Airport, Orlando, Florida. The pilot stated that after a normal touchdown, the right wing dropped and the airplane veered to the right. He applied full left rudder input, but the airplane veered to the right and collided with metal objects on the ground, adjacent to the runway, then collided with a fence and fence poles. Examination of the right main landing gear revealed that the right main landing gear fork and rod assembly was failed. Additionally, an AN bolt, which when installed is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the airplane and is located near the fracture surface of the fork, was also failed. The failed fork and rod assembly and AN bolt, along with a plug, were sent to the NTSB Metallurgy Laboratory in Washington, DC, for examination. Metallurgical examination of the failed fork and rod assembly revealed no evidence of preexisting cracks. The fracture features were typical of an overstress. Examination of the failed AN bolt revealed it was bent and the fracture surface was flat on a transverse plane 90 degrees to the longitudinal direction of the bolt. No evidence of preexisting cracks were noted. The airplane, minus the retained failed right main landing gear fork and rod assembly, failed AN bolt, and plug, was released to the owner on May 8, 1998. The retained components were released to Mr. Steve Pulak, of Sample International, Inc., on June 24, 1998. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - proper descent rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Aircraft - Registration: [N154CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N154CH-2013-05-13), registration cancelled 2013-05-13, S/N 27-7305191, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-7305191 - Airframe hours: 2027 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-C1A 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Caesair, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 24, 1997, 4 hours before - Departed: MCO, ORLANDO, FL - Destination: 5X1 - Airport: 5X1, Flying Palomino Ranch, runway 27, 2,500 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,018 total, 380 in this make and model, 930 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LEE, 7 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 19980426007649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980426007649A), Apr 26, 1998: Piper PA23250, Fruitland Park, FL, Substantial damage. Right main gear for and rod assembly failed on landing. Veered off runway hit objects. A fence and post. (-23) landing right main gear fork assembly failed… 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.