# NTSB NYC00LA190: Spartan 7W, N17613, Jefferson, OH, July 6, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2000, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Jefferson, OH - Coordinates: 41.539318, -81.070922 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5393&lon=-81.0709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51282 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51282/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA190 ## Probable cause The overload failure of the left main gear strut housing. ## 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 - overload (cause) ## Analysis As the airplane touched down, the left wing would not remain level despite inputs to the aileron. Control of the airplane was maintained for about 500 feet, then the airplane swerved left and departed the left side of the runway, onto a grass area. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear assembly broke at the top shock strut mount. The owner forwarded components from the left main landing gear to an independent metallurgist. The fracture surface on the left main landing gear strut housing was examined under a scanning electron microscope, and the metallurgist concluded, 'the bulk of the fracture surface of the housing was a cleavage fracture which would be consistent with an overload condition coupled with the low ductility of the housing. The airplane was built in 1937, and the landing gear assembly was an original part. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2000, about 1245 Eastern Daylight Time, a Spartan 7W, N17613, was substantially damaged while landing at the Ashtabula County Airport, Jefferson, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was on an orientation flight to become familiar with the airplane. Prior to landing on Runway 26, the landing gear and flaps were extended and everything appeared normal. As the airplane touched down, the left wing would not remain level, despite inputs to the aileron. The left wing then contacted the runway surface and the pilot inputted full right rudder followed by use of full right brake. Control of the airplane was maintained for about 500 feet, then the airplane swerved left and departed the left side of the runway, onto a grass area. The right main gear then collapsed into its wheel well and the airplane slid to a stop. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left main landing gear assembly broke at the top shock strut mount. On August 31, 2000, the airplane's owner forwarded the components from the left main landing gear to an independent metallurgist. Components of the right main landing were also forwarded for comparison. After the fracture surface on the left main landing gear strut housing was examined under a scanning electron microscope, the metallurgist concluded, "the bulk of the fracture surface of the housing was a cleavage fracture which would be consistent with an overload condition coupled with the low ductility of the housing. According to the airplane's owner, the airplane was built in 1937, and the landing gear assembly was an original part. The wind conditions at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 330 degrees at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17613](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17613), registered now, S/N 12, built 1937 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Spartan 7W - Registry model: [Spartan 7W](https://openairdocs.org/model/spartan-7w) (registry code 8430302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12 - Airframe hours: 3652 - Engines: P&W R985 AN-1-148 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John T. Venaleck - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2000, 4 hours before - Departed: 7G8, MIDDLEFIELD, OH - Destination: HZY - Airport: HZY, Ashtabula County Arpt, runway 26, 5,198 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,008 total, 1,854 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HZY ## 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 20000706005839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000706005839A), Jul 6, 2000: Spartn 7W, Ashtabula, OH, No damage. (-23) Aircraft crashed on landing roll out when left hand main landing gear broke at top attach point and departed the aircaft. The right hand main landing… 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.