# NTSB SEA02LA084: Paxhia Murphy SR3500, N526AP, Seattle, WA, May 22, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 22, 2002, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Seattle, WA - Coordinates: 47.529998, -122.30194 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5300&lon=-122.3019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO (Seattle) - NTSB case key (mKey): 54752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54752/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54752 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA084 ## Probable cause The failure of the left main gear leg AN-5 attach fitting bolt. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, taxi - from landing - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - failure (cause) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped experimental aircraft had just completed an uneventful landing and was turning off the runway at a speed estimated to be about ten to fifteen miles per hour. As the aircraft was exiting the runway, the AN-5 bolt that attached the left gear leg to the landing gear saddle bracket failed. The left side of the aircraft then settled to the runway and the left wing sustained substantial damage. The reason for the failure of the bolt was not ultimately determined. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 2002, approximately 1315 Pacific daylight time, a Paxhia Murphy SR3500 experimental-category airplane, N526AP, experienced a left main landing gear collapse as the pilot was preparing to taxi clear of the runway following landing on runway 13R at King County International Airport/Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington. Following the gear collapse, the aircraft's left wing contacted the runway surface, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot (who had built the aircraft) and two passengers aboard the aircraft were not injured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions with calm winds were reported at the airport at 1253, and no flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight from Vashon, Washington. The aircraft received its initial experimental-category airworthiness certificate on April 15, 2002, and (according to the aircraft logbook) completed its required initial flight test hours on May 18, 2002. The aircraft logbook indicated that as of May 18, the aircraft's total time in service was 40.6 hours (per the aircraft's Hobbs meter) or 30.1 hours (per the aircraft's recording tachometer). The aircraft was equipped with tailwheel landing gear. The pilot indicated in an initial telephone interview that the accident flight was the airplane's first flight with passengers aboard. In preliminary statements, the aircraft occupants indicated that as the pilot prepared to turn left onto taxiway A4 following a normal landing roll, at a speed of approximately 15 knots, the left landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft 's left side dropped to the pavement. The aircraft came to rest facing approximately northbound. Following the accident, it was discovered that the AN-5 bolt holding the gear leg to the landing gear saddle bracket had failed. The reason for the failure of the bolt was not ultimately determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N526AP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N526AP), registered now, S/N 026SR (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Paxhia Murphy SR3500 - Registry model: [Paxhia Alan J MURPHY SR3500](https://openairdocs.org/model/paxhia-alan-j-murphy-sr3500) (registry code 05613Y0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 026SR - Airframe hours: 45 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-EXP 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alan J. Paxhia - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2002, 45 hours before - Departed: 2S1, Vashon, WA - Destination: BFI, Seattle, WA - Airport: BFI, Boeing Field, runway 13R, 10,000 × 200 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,023 total, 45 in this make and model, 2,004 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: BFI ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 23, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54752. 347 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 310 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438662&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Supplement S (item 2, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40173826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-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.