Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-44-180 near Redmond, OR — 2021-02-07

Final reportWPR21LA117
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Date
2021-02-07
Location
Redmond, OR, USA
Airport
RDM
Aircraft
PIPER PA-44-180
Registration
N125MG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

Failure of the landing gear strut piston tube due to fatigue cracking from corrosion pitting.

NTSB narrative

During the instructional flight, the right main landing gear separated during landing roll following a normal touchdown. The separated right landing gear assembly then struck the rear edge of the wing, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing. Examination revealed that the right landing gear strut piston tube had failed due to two fatigue cracks that had originated from corrosion pits near a drilled hole. Two months before the accident, the manufacturer had issued a service letter applicable to the airplane that called for inspection of the strut piston tube for fatigue cracks. Performance of the inspection called for in the service letter would have discovered the cracks that led to the accident. Although the operator held a Part 141 certificate, they were not required to comply with the service letter.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Failure to inspect landing gear per service letter before the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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