# NTSB WPR14LA051: Piper PA 31P, N14TG, Calexico, CA, October 12, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 2013, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Calexico, CA - Coordinates: 32.667221, -115.517501 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6672&lon=-115.5175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 10, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88426 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88426/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88426 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA051 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper pitch attitude during the landing, which resulted in the nose landing gear contacting the surface hard and then separating from the airplane. ## 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; cases with it: [Piper PA-31P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=7103120), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=7103120), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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-31P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103120), [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-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103120), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he set up for a straight-in approach to the runway, that the approach was normal, and that he completed the prelanding checklist. He was targeting 90 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) for touchdown, but the airplane was "slightly fast" as it was approaching the runway, so he pulled the power back to idle and initiated the landing flare. The airplane was unresponsive when he pulled up the nose. Although the airplane settled down on the main landing gear first, the nosewheel then contacted the surface and abruptly sheared off, the nose landing gear assembly separated from the airplane, and the airplane then nosed down and slid about 1,000 feet down the runway before coming to rest. Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear strut assembly found that the housing was ruptured and that the strut had separated. Further examination of the assembly found no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that there were known problems controlling the airplane's nose attitude when the airplane was in the landing configuration between 90 KIAS and the recommended landing speed of about 80 KIAS. He stated that, although both these speeds are above the stall speed, they are too slow for the airplane to respond to pilot elevator control inputs. It is likely that the pilot did not maintain the appropriate pitch attitude for landing and that the nose landing gear contacted the surface hard, which broke the gear strut. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 2013, at 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-31P, N14TG, experienced a nose gear separation during the landing roll at the Calexico International Airport, Calexico, California. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The forward fuselage was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Flying Bull Aviation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from El Cajon, California, at 1425. The pilot reported that he set-up for a straight in approach to runway 8. The approach was normal and the prelanding checklist was completed. The pilot stated that he was targeting 90 KIAS for touchdown, but the airspeed was slightly fast approaching the runway so he pulled the power back to idle and flared. The airplane was unresponsive when he pulled up the nose as the airplane settled on the main landing gear. The nosewheel abruptly sheared off upon surface contact and the airplane nosed down and slid about 1,000 feet down the runway before coming to rest. The pilot further reported that there are known problems controlling the nose attitude in the landing configuration between 90 KIAS and the recommended landing speed around 80 KIAS. Both these speeds are above the stalling speed, but too slow to respond to pilot action regarding elevator control. Post accident examination of the nose gear strut found that the housing was ruptured and the strut was broken. Further examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14TG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14TG-2020-12-28), registration cancelled 2020-12-28, S/N 31P-7400190 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 31P (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Piper PA-31P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31p) (registry code 7103120) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIGO-541SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tigo-541ser) (registry code 41539, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31P-7400190 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 3301 - Engines: LYCOMING TIGO-541SER 425 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TIGO-541SER 425 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flying Bull Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Flying Bull Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 2012, 150 hours before - Departed: SEE, El Cajon, CA - Destination: CXL, Calexico, CA - Airport: CXL, Calexico Intl, runway 08, 4,683 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 25, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 689 total, 35 in this make and model, 625 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 2 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: CXL ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88426. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 727 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Examination Report (item 2, .PDF, 5 photos, 685 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40421446&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Examination%20Report-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.