# NTSB WPR22LA159: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42, N822SA, Long Beach, CA, April 19, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 19, 2022, 15:38 local (22:38 UTC) - Place: Long Beach, CA - Coordinates: 33.816136, -118.14948 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8161&lon=-118.1495&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 104967 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104967/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104967 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA159 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear brace rib for reasons that could not be determined based on available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2990104), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=2990104), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2990104), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction performed a short-field landing to a runway. During the rollout, about 750 ft from the touchdown point, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing contacted the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron. A postaccident inspection revealed the right main landing gear brace rib had separated from the wing structure. Examination of the failed components revealed the separation did not occur due to faulty adhesion from the original installation. In addition, an 8- to 10-inch crack was discovered between the upper and lower wing skin bonds to the airplane’s center section spar. That crack would have resulted from some type of force or stress to the airplane, such as a hard landing. However, no hard landings in the airplane had been reported. The airplane had undergone a 100-hour/annual inspection about 3 weeks before the accident, with no reports of damage or faults related to the landing gear. The airplane had been flown for about 35 hours since the inspection by multiple pilots. It is likely that the separation of the right main landing gear support assembly and the crack were initiated by a hard landing that was not reported since the inspection. The condition of the right main landing gear brace rib likely began to deteriorate and the right main landing gear subsequently collapsed during the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 2022, about 1538 Pacific daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft Inc. DA-42 airplane, N822SA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Long Beach Airport (Daugherty Field), Long Beach, California. The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The pilot receiving instruction reported that he was conducting a multiengine training flight and had performed multiple maneuvers before the accident. During the rollout after a short-field landing, about 750 ft from the touchdown point, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing contacted the ground, which substantially damaged the right aileron. According to the flight instructor, the approach was normal, and the touchdown occurred with no sideloading. The flight instructor also stated that he checked the gear three times; the pilot receiving instruction checked it twice; and the gear appeared to be in the down and locked position, as indicated by the three green landing gear lights. A representative from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), along with maintenance personnel from the operator, examined the airplane at the accident site and observed the composite right landing gear brace rib had separated from the wing structure. Further examination of the airframe revealed the right main landing gear brace rib had separated from its attachment points at the spar and upper wing skin. The bonding paste material was still adhered to both the brace rib and the spar/wing skin attachment points, consistent with correct adhesion of the components. There was no evidence of faulty adhesion from the original installation. The examination also revealed an 8- to 10-inch crack between the upper and lower wing skin bonds to the airplane’s center section spar. A coin tap test and a visual examination revealed no cracks on the left main landing gear brace. A review of maintenance documents revealed that the latest service bulletins and airworthiness directives had been performed on the airplane. Also, the airplane had recently completed a 100-hour/annual inspection about 3 weeks before the accident, with no report of damaged or faulty components related to the landing gear. The airplane had been flown for about 35 hours since the annual inspection by multiple pilots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N822SA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N822SA), registered now, S/N 42.AC006, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 42 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-42) (registry code 2990104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Austro E4 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/austro-e4-series) (registry code 06400, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 42.AC006 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 4164.5 - Engines: Austro E4-B 170 hp reciprocating; Austro E4-B 170 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pughs Air West LLC - Registered owner: Pughs Air West LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 2022, 35 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LGB, Long Beach Airport (Daugherty Field), runway 26L, 3,918 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 65; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 3, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,127 total, 26 in this make and model, 1,030 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 25; 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 November 23, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,648 total, 446 in this make and model, 1,545 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: LGB ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20220419005609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220419005609I), Apr 19, 2022: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 42, Longbeach, CA, Minor damage. On April 19, 2022, instructor,[privacy data omitted] was completing a multi-engine training flight, at klgb. Flying a Diamond twin star (da 42 ng; tail #… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104967. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14756012&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA159%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14274116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N822SA%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Exam email from FAA (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14273156&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Exam%20Email%20from%20FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Party member report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14274190&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Diamond%20Representitve%20Report-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from the maintenance logbook (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 385 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14291325&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20documents-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14305656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CERTIFICATION%20OF%20PARTY%20REPRESENTATIVE%20-%20NG%20Diamond_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 535 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14273826&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR22LA159-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.