# NTSB WPR18LA044: Piper PA 34-200T, N47536, Glendale, AZ, December 5, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 4, 2017, 18:35 local (Dec 5, 2017, 01:35 UTC) - Place: Glendale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.526943, -112.29528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5269&lon=-112.2953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96439 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96439/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96439 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA044 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the fatigue of the left main landing gear assembly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-34-200T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that, during touchdown, the left wing "dipped" and the instructor initiated an aborted landing. After determining that the airplane would not climb, the instructor reduced engine power and attempted to stop the airplane, which veered off the runway surface, impacted a sign, and came to rest in the dirt adjacent to the runway. The instructor later reported that the left main landing gear had "malfunctioned" upon touchdown. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane landed left of the runway centerline with all three landing gear extended; the first indication of the collapsed gear was visible in a dirt area on the left side of the runway behind a runway distance marker. Although examination of the left main landing gear revealed a small area of fatigue, the majority of the fracture surface exhibited signatures consistent with overstress failure; therefore, it is likely that the gear fractured due to overstress following the runway excursion and impact with a sign. ## Factual narrative On December 5, 2017, about 1835 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N47536, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Glendale, Arizona. The flight instructor and the commercial pilot were not injured. The airplane was as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The instructor reported that the commercial pilot receiving instruction, who was flying the airplane, successfully completed two simulated engine failure maneuvers in the traffic pattern. During the third traffic pattern, the instructor initiated a right engine failure. While on base, the pilot extended the landing gear and verbally confirmed that all three landing gear lights were green, which indicated the landing gear were down and locked. Upon touchdown, the left wing "dipped" and the airplane bounced back into the air. The instructor took the flight controls and, in an attempt to climb, applied full power to both engines; however, the nose of the airplane dropped, and the airplane started to drift toward the left side of the runway. The instructor determined that the airplane would not climb, and he retarded both throttle and mixture controls and attempted to maintain directional control while simultaneously applying brakes to stop. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to a complete stop in the adjacent dirt area. The instructor also reported that "the left landing gear malfunctioned" upon touchdown. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane landed with all three-landing gear extended; each tire's skid mark was visible on the runway surface to the left of the centerline. Additionally, the landing gear imprints were visible in the dirt where the airplane veered off the runway. The runway edge light and the 1,000-ft distance marker showed evidence of the left propeller/nose impacts. The left main landing gear collapsed after it impacted the distance marker, as evidenced by wide tire marks as the airplane started to roll on the sidewall of the left tire. Examination of the left main landing gear fracture surface revealed slant fractures consistent with an overstress failure. One small area of the fracture surface, coincident with the forging flash line, exhibited a flat fracture surface. A sample that contained the flat fracture area was further examined under the scanning electron microscope, which revealed striations consistent with a fatigue fracture. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47536](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47536), registered now, S/N 34-7770412, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 34-200T (220T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-7770412 - Year built: 1977 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Angel Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Angel Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 2, 2017 - Departed: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Destination: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Airport: GEU, Glendale Muni, runway 01, 7,150 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 38; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 839 total, 158.8 in this make and model, 745.2 as pilot in command, 262.2 in the last 90 days, 105.5 in the last 30 days, 1.2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 8, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KGEU ## 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 20171205023499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171205023499A), Dec 5, 2017: Piper PA-34-200T, Glendale, AZ, Substantial damage. On December 5, 2017 at 1830 local, a Piper seneca ii, N47536, operating on a local training flight ,departed the left side of runway 1 at Glendale AZ after… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96439. 5.5 MB in all. - Materials laboratory factual report (item 1, PDF, 4 pages, 359 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8477009&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Report%2018-019-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (CFI) (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11682191&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Point%20One%20WPR18LA044%20CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot) (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11682225&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Point%20One%20KD_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement with photos (item 4, PDF, 18 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8476800&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=536%20Statement_SML-Rel.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.