# NTSB WPR12CA401: Piper PA-22-108, N4798Z, Lewiston, ID, September 4, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 4, 2012, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, ID - Coordinates: 46.371387, -117.009162 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3714&lon=-117.0092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84950 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA401 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84950/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84950 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA401 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate postmaintenance and preflight inspections, which resulted in the separation of the left main wheel after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the improperly secured left main wheel spindle nut. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear/wheel fairing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023201): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023201/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023201/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Misc hardware](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071400): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071400/cases.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071400/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-108, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102204), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis After departure from an uncontrolled airport, ground personnel advised the pilot that they saw the left main wheel and tire fall off the airplane. The pilot decided to continue flight to a nearby controlled airport, where, after flying around to decrease the amount of fuel on the airplane, he landed. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and tipped onto its nose, which substantially damaged the right wing spar. The pilot reported that he observed no anomalies when he examined the main wheel bearings for the correct spindle nut tension 2 days before the accident. However, he believes that the left wheel spindle nut cotter pin was inadvertently omitted or not installed correctly when he reinstalled the wheel on the airplane. He said that a more thorough inspection of the wheel bearing service work should have been performed, and that a more thorough preflight inspection could have caught the problem. ## Factual narrative After departure from an uncontrolled airport, the pilot was advised by personnel at the airport that they saw the left main wheel and tire fall off the airplane. The pilot decided to continue to the accident airport. After flying around to decrease the amount of fuel on the airplane, he landed using runway 30. The airplane pulled to the right until it departed the right side of the runway and tipped onto its nose. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that he examined the main wheel bearings 2 days prior to the accident for the correct spindle nut tension. He believes that the left wheel spindle nut cotter pin was inadvertently omitted or not installed correctly during the wheel reinstallation on the airplane. He said that a more thorough inspection of the wheel bearing service work should have been performed, and that a more thorough pre-flight inspection could have caught the problem. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4798Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4798Z), registered now, S/N 22-8365, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-108 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22-108](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-108) (registry code 7102204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-8365 - Airframe hours: 4512 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Reetz Duane W - Registered owner: Reetz Duane W - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2012, 20 hours before - Departed: GIC, Grangeville, ID - Destination: 3U2, Yellow Pine, ID - Airport: LWS, Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airp, runway 30, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 888 total, 504 in this make and model, 853 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: LWS ## 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 20120904018879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120904018879A), Sep 4, 2012: Piper PA-22-108, Lewiston, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting a cross country plane trip. After two earlier flights in the day the pilot took off and the left main landing gear tire fell off after… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84950. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.