# NTSB WPR13LA349: Piper PA-44-180, N5367Y, Billings, MT, July 30, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 30, 2013, 11:43 local (17:43 UTC) - Place: Billings, MT - Coordinates: 45.807498, -108.542778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8075&lon=-108.5428&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87635 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA349 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87635/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87635 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA349 ## Probable cause The pilots’ inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the left main landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); 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 flight instructor and commercial pilot reported that they were conducting a training flight and that, after performing numerous maneuvers in the local practice area, they returned to the airport to perform practice landings in various simulated situations. After an uneventful takeoff and landing, they set up for a practice short-field landing. Following the landing flare, the airplane touched down on the runway surface, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The propellers contacted the runway, and the airplane skidded, which resulted in damage to the wing spar. Examinations revealed that the left main landing gear was fractured through the lower end of the strut tube, which was bent. The fracture surfaces of the strut tube and fork were consistent with an overstress event. Given the damage to the airplane, it is likely that the left main landing gear collapsed due to a hard landing and/or an excessive side load during the landing. ## Factual narrative On July 30, 2013, about 1143 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180 Seminole, N5367Y, experienced a left main landing gear collapse during landing at Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana. The airplane was registered to and operated by Rocky Mountain College under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the commercial pilot undergoing instruction were not injured; and, the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed from Billings about 1020. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.In both a written statement and a telephone interview with a Safety Board investigator, the CFI reported that the flight was intended to follow a lesson plan in the multi-engine commercial pilot syllabus for Rocky Mountain College. After performing numerous maneuvers in the local practice area, they returned to the airport and performed a simulated single-engine inoperative landing to runway 28R. After touchdown, the commercial pilot taxied back to the runway and departed, maneuvering onto the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. He configured the airplane with the landing gear extended and visually confirmed that the nose gear was down by utilizing a mirror affixed to the wing; all three landing gear indicator lights in the cockpit were illuminated confirming the down and locked position. The CFI further stated that with the landing gear appearing to be extended, the commercial pilot continued with the practice short-field landing. After the landing flare, the airplane touched down on the runway surface and the left main landing gear collapsed. The propellers contacted the runway and the airplane skid about 800 to 1,000 feet. During the accident sequence the airplane incurred substantial damage to the wing spar and a section of the fuselage skin was wrinkled. The left wheel assembly had separated at the strut. The airport supervisor stated that he thoroughly inspected all airfield surfaces before and after the accident. He did not observe any evidence or anomalies that would indicate the airplane struck any objects. He did note that the airplane's propeller made slashes in the asphalt where the wheel was found. Based on the pilots' statements about the landing, the separated landing gear was shipped to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory. A Senior Materials Engineer performed an examination of the fracture surfaces. He observed that the landing gear was fractured through the lower end of the strut tube just above its connection with the fork. The tube was bent, the fracture faces had a rough appearance, and the fracture faces were oriented at 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The fork was bent so that the top of the fork was impinging on the top of the tire. The appearance of the strut tube and the fork were consistent with an overstress event. A representative from PiperAircraft looked at photographs of the airplane and stated that the damage was consistent with that of a hard landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5367Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5367Y-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 4496175, built 2003 (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-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4496175 - Airframe hours: 3305 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Rocky Mountain College - Registered owner: Rocky Mountain College - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2013, 51 hours before - Departed: BIL, Billings, MT - Destination: BIL, Billings, MT - Airport: BIL, Billings Logan International, runway 28R, 10,521 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 20; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2013; seat: right; flight hours: 567 total, 63 in this make and model, 163 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 208 total, 13 in this make and model, 101 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: BIL ## 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 20130730014489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130730014489A), Jul 30, 2013: Piper PA-44-180, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. On July 30, 2013 aprox 11:43 mt, a Piper seminole (PA-44-180), N5367Y, was attempting to land at the Billings logan international airport when the left main… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87635. 6.2 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=40418527&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Piper (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418528&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Piper-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Airport Supervisor (item 3, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418529&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Airport%20Supervisor-Master.PDF - NTSB Materials Laboratory Fracture Assessment (item 4, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418530&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Materials%20Laboratory%20Fracture%20Assessment-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Front View of Airplane (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 5, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418525&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Front%20View%20of%20Airplane%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Rear View of Airplane (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 6, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418526&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Rear%20View%20of%20Airplane%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-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. --- 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.