# NTSB WPR23LA013: Piper PA-30, N7746Y, Tucson, AZ, October 15, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 15, 2022, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.142211, -111.17457 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1422&lon=-111.1746&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106137 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106137/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106137 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## 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-30, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on short final to land, the airplane yawed to the right. The pilot stated that full left rudder was needed to keep the airplane straight. The airplane subsequently touched down hard and departed the right side of the runway. All three landing gear collapsed and the left wing buckled, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engines was conducted, including test runs of both engines. No anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation or contributed to the loss of control during landing. Engine data from the accident flight were recovered, and no anomalies were noted in the data. Thus, the reason for the pilot’s loss of control during landing could not be determined based on the available evidence for this investigation. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 2022, about 1200 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-30, N7746Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ryan Field Airport (RYN), Tucson, Arizona. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, on short final to land at RYN, the airplane yawed “hard right.” He stated that full left rudder was needed to keep the airplane straight. The pilot stated that he thought that he heard an engine surge. The airplane subsequently touched down hard and departed the right side of the runway. The pilot reported that all three landing gear collapsed and that the airplane then slid to a stop. The left wing buckled during the accident sequence. No wind gusts were reported during the approach or landing. A postaccident examination of the wreckage was conducted. Flight control continuity was verified to all flight controls, and all flight control surfaces moved freely and as commanded when the aileron, elevator, and rudder controls were manipulated in the cockpit. Engine control continuity was verified by manipulating the throttle, mixture, and propeller controls in the cockpit and observing the associated controls move at each engine. The engine control manipulation was normal except for the constant speed propeller control for the right engine. Excessive resistance was felt while manipulating the right engine propeller control, but the control lever was able to move throughout the full range of motion. The pilot recalled no unusual resistance in the engine controls before the accident. An engine run was accomplished on both engines. Before attempting the engine run on the right engine, the propeller control cable was disconnected at the propeller governor control arm. The control arm on the propeller controller operated normally and without restriction after the cable was disconnected. The resistance remained when the propeller control lever was manipulated while disconnected. The cable was then reconnected to the propeller control on the engine. The source of the resistance was not identified. Both engines started normally using onboard battery power and ran normally as engine power was increased to about 1,700 rpm. Engine power was not increased beyond 1,700 rpm due to vibration from damaged propeller blades. Each engine responded appropriately when individual magnetos were selected, and each propeller cycled normally when commanded. No anomalies were noted with either engine. A JPI engine data monitor was recovered from the airplane. The downloaded data correlated to the accident flight. No anomalies were noted in the recovered data. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7746Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7746Y), registered now, S/N 30-837, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-837 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 6113 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320 B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 2022, 18 hours before - Departed: KODO, Odessa, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: RYN, Ryan Field Airport, runway 6L, 4,900 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 30, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 11,005 total, 642 in this make and model, 9,080 as pilot in command, 22.9 in the last 90 days, 16.9 in the last 30 days, 5.8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: KRYN, 1 nm away - METAR: KRYN 151845Z 33004KT 10SM CLR 24/16 A2991 ## Other investigations on N7746Y (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 FTW66D0416](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66D0416), Oct 10, 1965: Piper PA-30 (N7746Y), Tulsa, OK, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106137. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15111655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage and engine examination notes (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15186805&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR_Initial%20Wreckage%20Examination%20WPR23LA013-Rel.pdf - Engine data (item 3, XLSX, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15111576&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=JPI%20Data%20Raw-Rel.xlsx - Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15112500&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photos%20WPR23LA013-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15737964&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.