Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-30 near Allentown, PA — 2014-02-16

Final reportERA14LA133
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Date
2014-02-16
Location
Allentown, PA, USA
Airport
XLL
Aircraft
PIPER PA-30
Registration
N931JS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that he simulated a right engine failure, which required the pilot receiving instruction to perform a single-engine, full-stop landing. The pilot receiving instruction maintained the correct airspeed on final but flared the airplane a little high, which resulted in a "solid touchdown." Shortly after touchdown, while the flight instructor was guarding the rudder pedals with his feet, the airplane veered heavily left, which he attempted to correct with full right rudder and brake. Runway skid marks indicated that the airplane yawed left as it continued to veer left and then collide with a snow bank off the left side of the runway. Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear steering system and the fractured left main landing gear trunnion revealed no evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. No mechanical reason for the loss of directional control was identified during postaccident examination.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
CFI could have initiated a go-around after firm touchdown.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

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