# NTSB NYC02LA058: Piper PA-20, N2254A, Fremont, OH, February 9, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 9, 2002, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Fremont, OH - Coordinates: 41.349201, -83.110534 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3492&lon=-83.1105&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 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54178 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54178/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54178 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA058 ## Probable cause Damage to the right tire, which resulted in a sudden loss of tire pressure and a loss of directional control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,tire - cut/severed (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot was conducting closed traffic. While compensating for a "light" right crosswind, he executed a normal approach. The airplane touched down, and then started to pull hard to the right. The airplane exited the runway, and ground looped to the right, with the left wing and elevator impacting the ground. Examination of the right tire revealed a cut consistent with impacting a sharp object. The runway was searched for the object, but nothing was found. Prior to the flight, the pilot inspected the tires, noting no anomalies. He did not inspect all of the right tire because the airplane was equipped with wheel fairings. ## Factual narrative On February 9, 2002, about 1500 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-20, N2254A, was substantially damaged while landing at the Sandusky County Regional Airport (S24), Fremont, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal local flight. No flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he was conducting closed traffic to runway 6. While compensating for a "light" right crosswind, the pilot executed a normal approach. The airplane touched down, and then started to pull hard to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and brake, but could not maintain directional control. The airplane continued in a "tight" arc to the right, leaving the runway on an angle of about 40 degrees. The right main landing gear then contacted some mud at the edge of the runway. The airplane "pivoted" hard to the right causing the airplane to "tilt" left, and the left wing to impact the ground. The airplane came to a stop pointed towards the runway, about 10 feet to the right. The pilot and passenger then exited. The pilot examined the right tire and noticed what appeared to be a cut. He and his passenger then walked the runway to find what may have caused the damage, but were unsuccessful. Prior to the flight, the pilot preflighted the tires, but did not notice any anomalies. He added that the airplane was equipped with wheel fairings, and that they may have concealed the damage. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the damage to the right tire was consistent with impacting a sharp object. In addition, the left wing spar and elevator were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2254A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2254A), registered now, S/N 20-908, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-20 - Registry model: [Piper PA-20-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-20-135) (registry code 7102010) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-908 - Airframe hours: 4642 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rex Evelsizer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 26, 2001 - Departed: S24, Fremont, OH - Destination: S24, OH - Airport: S24, Sandusky County Regional, runway 6, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 6, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,950 total, 17 in this make and model, 1,925 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: TDZ, 316 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 20020209006139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020209006139A), Feb 9, 2002: Piper PA20135, Fremont, OH, No damage. (-23) The pilot stated that during rollout of this "touch n'go", the aircraft began pulling to the right. The pilot also stated that he "applied full left… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54178. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Record of Interview with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40147189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Form 8020-23 (item 4, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40155235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Form%208020-23-Master.PDF 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.