# NTSB WPR19LA227: Piper PA28R, N43793, Spokane, WA, August 19, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 19, 2019, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Spokane, WA - Coordinates: 47.619167, -117.535278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6192&lon=-117.5353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100086/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100086 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA227 ## Probable cause A loss of directional control during landing for undetermined reasons. ## 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 · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, after the nosewheel touched down, the airplane “immediately” veered to the right and he was unable to regain control. The airplane continued off the side of the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed that the steering linkage control rod exhibited bending of the threaded shaft and 45o shear lips and cupping on the fractured surface, consistent with a ductile overstress fracture. The left main landing gear collapse and the steering linkage and control rod fracture likely occurred during the accident sequence from side loads experienced during the runway excursion. The reason for the loss of control during landing could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2019, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201 airplane, N43793, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Spokane, Washington. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the landing was “normal”; however, when the nose wheel touched down, the airplane “immediately turned right very sharply.” The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane and after exiting the right side of the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the accident site revealed tire marks on the runway surface veering to the right and ending near the accident site. The airplane sustained buckling of the left upper wing surface and wing root area. The nose landing gear steering linkage and control rod was fractured. The control rod exhibited bending of the threaded shaft near the fracture and 45° shear lips and cupping on the fractured surface. The examination did not reveal any anomalies with the steering system that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43793](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43793), registered now, S/N 28R-7737135 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28R (201) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7737135 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 3500 - Engines: Lycoming IO360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 20, 2018 - Departed: 74S, Anacortes, WA - Destination: SFF, Spokane, WA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SFF, Felts Field, runway 22R, 4,499 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 27, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 2,763 total, 1,716 in this make and model, 2,632 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KGEG ## 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 20190819013989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190819013989A), Aug 19, 2019: Piper PA-28R-201, Spokane, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he landed normally at about 80 mph and was rolling out when he thought he had a flat tire. Aircraft veered to the right and started skidding.… ## Other investigations on N43793 (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX00LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA060), Dec 23, 1999: Piper PA-28R-201 (N43793), Santa Ana, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot of the other airplane to maintain an adequate obstruction clearance while taxiing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100086. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212803&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email-faa examination notes (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13211395&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Email-FAA%20Examination_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array-faa (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212165&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-FAA-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.