# NTSB WPR11LA471: Piper PA-44-180, N316PA, Phoenix, AZ, September 4, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 2011, 09:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.685554, -112.086387 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6856&lon=-112.0864&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 March 28, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81920
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA471
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81920/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81920
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA471

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare and hard landing, which resulted in the failure of the nose landing gear drag link in overstress.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear strut/axle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md)
- [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)
- [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) were practicing a series of landings. The CFI said that the second and third landings were short field landings and were not excessively hard. During the landing roll on the third landing, the nose of the airplane lowered, and the CFI suspected a collapse of the oleo strut. The CFI took control of the airplane and taxied down the runway. The CFI stated that, during the taxi, he noted nothing irregular with the handling of the airplane and informed the tower air traffic controller that this was going to be a full stop landing. After contacting the ground controller, the CFI added power, and noticed that the steering had failed, so he attempted to use differential thrust to turn the airplane. He then heard the propellers contact the ground and immediately shut down both engines. After exiting the airplane, he noticed that the nose gear was extended forward and resting against the most forward fuselage rib in the wheel well. A postaccident examination revealed a fractured and separated drag link and hydraulic fluid leaking from the wheel well. Examination of the fractured surfaces revealed rough matte gray features consistent with an overstress fracture.

## Factual narrative

On September 4, 2011, about 0920 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-44-180, N316PA, experienced a nose landing gear collapse after landing at Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and private pilot were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward portion of the fuselage. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Bird Acquisition LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight. The CFI reported that the private pilot was practicing landings in preparation for a check ride. The second and third landings were short field landings, which were not excessively hard. The CFI stated that during the landing roll on the third landing, the nose went low, and he suspected a collapse of the oleo strut. The CFI took control, and continued to taxi down the runway while making an effort to prevent the propellers from contacting the ground. At this point, the CFI did not see, hear, or feel any indication of a prop strike. He noted that the airplane was rolling smoothly and retained steering ability as he continued to let the airplane roll out without applying the brakes. He added that use of the pedals did not give any indication of a broken linkage or mechanical impediment of any kind. As the airplane approached a taxiway, the CFI informed the air traffic control tower that the landing would be a full stop, and initiated a turn to exit the runway onto a taxiway. The turn off the runway did not reveal any problems with steering; however, the CFI had to use slight braking to stop clear of another taxiway. After contacting ground control, the CFI added power, and noticed that the airplane was moving toward the dirt area between the taxiway and the ramp. He also noted that the steering had failed, so he attempted to use differential thrust to get the airplane pointed back toward the ramp. He then heard the propellers contact the ground; he immediately shut down both engines. After exiting the airplane, he noticed that the nose gear was extended forward and resting against the most forward fuselage rib in the wheel well; the rib sustained substantial damage. Upon inspection, he saw a fractured and separated drag link at the joint in addition to hydraulic fluid leaking from the wheel well. A specialist from the National Transportation Safety Board’s Materials Laboratory examined the fractured drag link. The specialist observed that the fracture features showed rough matte gray features consistent with overstress fracture. He observed no evidence of fatigue cracking.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N316PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N316PA), registered now, S/N 4496125, built 2002 (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 O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4496125
- Airframe hours: 4382
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Bird Acquisition LLC, doing business as Transpac Aviation Academy
- Registered owner: Bird Acquisition LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 26, 2011, 20 hours before
- Departed: DVT, Phoenix, AZ
- Destination: DVT, Phoenix, AZ
- Airport: DVT, Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, runway 07R, 8,197 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 14, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 3,911 total, 772 in this make and model, 3,853 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 22 in this make and model, 117 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: DVT

## 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 20110904022549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110904022549A), Sep 4, 2011: Piper PA-44-180, Phoenix, AZ, Minor damage. On September 4, 2011, aircraft N316PA was performing touch and goes with instructor pilot [privacy data omitted] and student pilot [privacy data omitted].…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 13, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81920. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361779&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Materials Laboratory Exam Findings (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Exam%20Findings-Master.PDF
- Chain of Custody Fractured Link (item 3, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Chain%20of%20Custody%20Fractured%20Link-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.

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