# NTSB NYC08CA190: Piper PA-44-180, N730FT, Inverness, FL, March 21, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 21, 2008, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Inverness, FL - Coordinates: 28.806388, -82.317779 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8064&lon=-82.3178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68064 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68064/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA190 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare and the flight examiner's inadequate remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Designated examiner (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During taxi, the "gear unsafe" light illuminated and would not extinguish. After the unsafe indication was reported to the operator, maintenance personnel discovered that the nose landing gear support structure including both the left and right gear well webs, were substantially damaged. According to the check pilot of a previous flight, he was giving a flight examination for a multiengine rating when during a landing, the student pilot landed hard and the right main landing gear tire "burst." The student and check pilot were unable to maintain directional control, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and the nose landing gear "dug in to the soft ground." A company mechanic replaced the right main landing gear tire as it "blew on landing." The right main landing gear was inspected after the runway excursion; however, no record of the nose gear being inspected was discovered. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 2008 the National Transportation Safety Board was notified by the operator of a PA-44-180, that it had experienced a hard landing on March 21, 2008. Interviews with flight instructors, who had flown the airplane, revealed that the damage was discovered on April 30, 2008, when during taxi the "gear unsafe" light illuminated, and would not extinguish. After the unsafe indication was reported to the operator, maintenance personnel discovered that the nose landing gear support structure including both the left and right gear well webs, were substantially damaged. Interviews with company personnel revealed that the airplane had been involved in a runway excursion during a checkride on March 21, 2008. According to the check pilot of the accident flight, he was giving a flight examination for a multiengine rating when during a landing, the student pilot landed hard and the right main landing gear tire "burst." The student and check pilot were unable to maintain directional control and the airplane departed the right side of the runway and the nose landing gear "dug in to the soft ground." Interviews with company personnel and review of maintenance records also revealed that a mechanic was flown to the airport where the runway excursion occurred, and the right main landing gear tire was replaced as it "blew on landing." The right main landing gear was inspected after the runway excursion; however, no record of the nose gear being inspected was discovered. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N730FT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N730FT-2011-05-16), registration cancelled 2011-05-16, S/N 447995190 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming LO-360-E1A6DA](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-lo-360-e1a6da) (registry code 42310, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 447995190 - Airframe hours: 5953 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming LO-360-E1A6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Orlando Flight Training - Registered owner: Abraxas Aircraft Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2008 - Departed: ISM, Kissimee, FL - Destination: X40, Inverness, FL - Airport: X40, Inverness Airport, runway 01, 3,762 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 71 total, 5 in this make and model - Check pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private, foreign, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 8,400 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: BKV, 22 nm away ## Other investigations on N730FT (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 ERA10LA410](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA410), Aug 10, 2010: Piper PA-44-180 (N730FT), Eastman, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Both pilots’ failure to use emergency checklist procedures for restarting the engine after the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. 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.