# NTSB SEA07LA050: Piper PA-28R-180, N4666J, Fresno, CA, December 21, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 20, 2006, 17:00 local (Dec 21, 2006, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Fresno, CA - Coordinates: 36.732223, -119.821945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7322&lon=-119.8219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65179/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA050 ## Probable cause The design stress limits of the airframe were exceeded by an unknown pilot. ## Analysis No damage to the airplane was detected prior to the flight instructor being checked out in the airplane, as well as before the cross-country instructional flight which followed the check out. After the completion of the cross-country flight wrinkled skin on top of both wings was discovered. The instructor stated that the damage was not a result of anything that had transpired during the cross-country flight. Interviews conducted by the FAA with numerous pilots who had recently flown the airplane failed to reveal who was responsible for the damage or how it was caused. ## Factual narrative On December 20, 2006, approximately 1700 Pacific standard time, substantial damage to a Piper PA-28R-180, N4666J, was discovered while the aircraft was being refueled after the completion of a cross-country instructional flight at the Fresno Chandler Executive Airport (FCH), Fresno, California. The airplane is registered to Memley Aviation Inc., of Fresno, and was operated by a certificated flight instructor. The date, time, and circumstances, which resulted in the aircraft being damaged to the aircaft is unknown. In a telephone interview and in a written statement submitted to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the flight instructor reported that on the day the damage was discovered he had undergone a checkout in the airplane, followed by a cross-country flight with a pilot-rated student. The pilot stated that prior to the checkout flight the check pilot told him that he had already done a preflight, but that the instructor could do one if he wished. The instructor reported that the did a "quick walk around" but did not notice damage to the landing gear or to the top of the wings. The instructor stated, "Had I done a full preflight myself I would have seen it." The instructor reported that after the checkout flight was completed he and his student flew to the Santa Monica Municipal airport (SMO), followed by a return flight to FCH. The instructor further reported that after landing at FCH and during refueling, the airplane's owner observed wrinkled skin on the top of both wings directly over the main landing gear, with wing rivets displace/popped out their secured riveted positions. The instructor stated that after being apprised of the damage, "...I knew that nothing that transpired during the course of my time in 66J could have come close to causing that kind of damage." Interviews conducted by Federal Aviation Administration personnel with several pilots who had recently flown the accident airplane failed to reveal who was responsible for the damage, or how the damage occurred. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, unknown - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, unknown (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4666J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4666J), registered now, S/N 28R-30565, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30565 - Airframe hours: 4422 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Registered owner: Memly Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 1, 2006, 16 hours before - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: FCH, Fresno Chandler Executive ## 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 20061220028969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061220028969A), Dec 20, 2006: Piper PA28R180, Fresno, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On dec 20, 2006, N4666J, a 1968 PA-28R-180, was being rented by a local flight school because their PA-28R was in for repairs. The owner had his CFI(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. --- 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.