# NTSB SEA96LA197: Piper PA-22-150, N7507D, Challis, ID, August 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 1996, 19:45 local (Aug 13, 1996, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Challis, ID - Coordinates: 44.650592, -114.150444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6506&lon=-114.1504&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42450 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42450/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA197 ## Probable cause corrosion in the left main landing gear cluster, which resulted in a failure of the left main landing gear. Inadequate inspection by undetermined maintenance personnel was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear attachment - corroded (cause) - landing gear,main gear - failure (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was landing to the south with the wind from the west. The aircraft drifted to the right and went off the runway. Subsequently, the left wing was damaged, and damage was found at the left landing gear cluster on the fuselage. The pilot stated that he believed that the landing gear may have sustained damage during his last departure. The departure airstrip was rough with broken bunch grass. The pilot said everything appeared fine until the aircraft touched down at the destination, where it was uncontrollable and ground-looped to the right. Examination revealed that three of the support tubes on the left main landing gear cluster were corroded and had preexisting bending and failures, which were attributed to a landing gear failure. Reportedly, the area was accessible for inspection. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 1996, approximately 1945 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150 tailwheel-converted airplane, N7507D, sustained substantial damage when the pilot lost directional control in a crosswind during landing. The private pilot and his passenger were uninjured. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which had departed Magic Valley Reservoir, Idaho, about 1845. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he was landing to the south, with the winds from the west. The aircraft drifted to the right and left the runway, impacting the left wingtip and damaging the left landing gear cluster on the fuselage. In a written statement, the pilot stated that he believed that the landing gear may have sustained damage during his departure from Magic Valley Reservoir, as that airstrip was rough with broken bunch grass. He said everything was fine until he touched down at Challis and found the airplane uncontrollable. He said the airplane ground-looped to the right side of the runway, damaging the left wing, left main landing gear and the propeller and crankshaft. When the aircraft was inspected by a mechanic, the mechanic determined that three of the support tubes of the left main landing gear cluster were corroded and had preexisting failures, which he attributed to causing the landing gear collapse. The area of preexisting damage is accessible for inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7507D (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-22-150 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-5234 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jackie R. Shipp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MAGIC VALLEY, ID - Destination: U15 - Airport: U15, Challis, runway 16, 4,600 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 19960812044499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960812044499A), Aug 12, 1996: Piper STCPA22, Challis, ID, Substantial damage. Ground looped tail dragger landing in crosswind. Side loads collapsed corroded and precracked gear cluster. 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.