Pilot Debrief

PACIFIC AEROSPACE CORP LTD 750XL near Warrenton, VA — 2014-05-09

Final reportERA14LA235
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Date
2014-05-09
Location
Warrenton, VA, USA
Airport
7VG0
Aircraft
PACIFIC AEROSPACE CORP LTD 750XL
Registration
N750SS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and separation of the left main landing gear.

NTSB narrative

According to the commercial pilot, following a skydiving operation, he returned to the airport. During the landing attempt and as the airplane was about 15 ft above ground level, the airplane banked left and the left main landing gear (MLG) then contacted the turf runway, so he immediately performed a go-around. Ground personnel subsequently contacted the pilot via radio to inform him that the left MLG had separated from the airplane. The pilot then performed an emergency landing, and, during the landing roll, the left wing contacted the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing spar. Examination of the left MLG revealed that three of the lower clamp's bolts were fractured, and an aft outboard bending moment was noted on the clamp piece. Fretting marks indicative of clamp movement were also noted. Although it could not be determined when the fretting occurred, it likely resulted from the initial hard landing. Further, several pieces of a polyurethane-based material were found within the left fuel tank. The fracture surfaces on these materials and on the left MLG bolts exhibited overstress damage consistent with a hard landing. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot improperly flared the airplane, which resulted in a hard landing and the subsequent separation of the left MLG.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the landing earlier to avoid gear failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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