# NTSB SEA08LA090: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1, N765DC, Spanish Fork, UT, March 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 2008, 16:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT - Coordinates: 40.141387, -111.661109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1414&lon=-111.6611&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67648 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67648/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA090 ## Probable cause The fatigue failure of the nose wheel fork assembly attachment stud/bolt during takeoff initial climb, and the collapse of the nose gear during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the initial climb after takeoff, the pilot heard a "loud bang" originating from the rear of the airplane, and he decided to circle around the airport and land. As the nose of the airplane settled during the landing roll, the nose wheel strut folded aft into the fuselage, resulting in structural damage to the airframe. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose wheel fork assembly and tire had separated from the nose wheel strut during takeoff. Examination of the nose wheel fork assembly attachment stud/bolt revealed fracture features consistent with fatigue and overload. Evidence of oxidation and/or corrosion was also present on the fracture surface. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 2008, about 1620 mountain daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1, N765DC, was substantially damaged during landing following an in-flight separation of the nose wheel at the Spanish Fork Airport (U77), Spanish Fork, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Airgyro Aviation LLC of Spanish Fork under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that departed from U77 about five minutes prior to the time of the accident. The pilot reported that during the initial climb after takeoff from runway 30 he heard a "loud bang" originating from the rear of the airplane and he decided to circle around the airport and land. During the landing roll, as the nose of the airplane settled, the nose wheel strut folded aft into the fuselage resulting in structural damage to the airframe. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose wheel fork assembly and tire had separated from the nose wheel strut during takeoff. The nose wheel fork assembly attachment stud/bolt was sent to the NTSB Office of Research and Engineering, Materials Laboratory Division for further examination. The examination revealed that the fracture surface of the stud/bolt had an area of flat fracture bordered by smoothly curving crack-arrest markings consistent with fatigue cracking. The fatigue cracking appeared to have propagated through an estimated 60 percent of the cross section of the stud/bolt, with the remaining cross section fractured with overstress signatures. Substantial oxidation and/or corrosion of the fracture surface was observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N765DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N765DC), registered now, S/N C0165 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1) (registry code 2990001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-240 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-series) (registry code 17063, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0165 - Airframe hours: 2391 - Engines: Continental IO-240 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Airgyro Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 1, 2008, 75 hours before - Departed: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Airport: U77, Spanish Fork Airport, runway 30, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 59 total, 59 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 5 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 20080309011579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080309011579A), Mar 9, 2008: Diamon DA20C1, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The nose gear pivoting stud failed during takeoff roll allowing the nose gear assembly to fall off as the aircraft became airborne. Upon landing the nose… ## Other investigations on N765DC (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 WPR09CA322](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA322), Jul 1, 2009: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 20-C1 (N765DC), Spanish Fork, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper landing flare. 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.