Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-32R-300 near Concord, NC — 2010-01-01

Final reportERA10LA108
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Date
2010-01-01
Location
Concord, NC, USA
Airport
JQF
Aircraft
PIPER PA-32R-300
Registration
N8985C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

A missing right main landing gear aft trunnion mount attachment nut.

NTSB narrative

While landing following an uneventful flight, the right main landing gear collapsed. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration found that an attachment bolt and retainer assembly had backed out of the aft landing gear trunnion assembly. The landing gear then separated at the aft trunnion. The barrel nut that held the attachment bolt was missing, and was not subsequently located. The inspector also noted no evidence of any pertinent maintenance performed within the previous year. Following the accident, the operator inspected all 30 fleet airplanes with no similar anomalies noted. In addition, all aircraft maintenance technicians were briefed on the accident and alerted to the area where the gear attachment hardware separated.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing after initial left jolt.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents10

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