Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-24-260 near Terre Haute, IN — 2022-04-27

Final reportCEN22LA184
Sign in to save
Date
2022-04-27
Location
Terre Haute, IN, USA
Airport
HUF
Aircraft
PIPER PA-24-260
Registration
N73T
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

A hard landing, which resulted in the failure of the right main landing gear outer bearing and collapse of the landing gear.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the baggage door opened shortly after takeoff, so he decided to return for a landing. The landing gear circuit breaker tripped when he attempted to extend the landing gear on downwind. After resetting the circuit breaker, the landing gear extended normally, and the gear down light illuminated. Upon landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. An examination of the landing gear determined the outer bearing brace failed which allowed the landing gear strut to separate from the trunnion. Examination of the fracture surface revealed that the bearing failed as a result of overload. The overload failure of the landing gear bearing was consistent with a hard landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the flight after the baggage door opened.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

Related mishaps