Pilot Debrief

LUSCOMBE 8A near Arcadia, FL — 2009-08-27

Final reportERA09LA520
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Date
2009-08-27
Location
Arcadia, FL, USA
Airport
X06
Aircraft
LUSCOMBE 8A
Registration
N40VS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's bounced takeoff roll, which resulted in a collapsed landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the airplane's overweight condition.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the left wing began to rise during the takeoff roll. He applied left aileron, leveled the airplane, and then “released the aileron for a normal takeoff at which time the plane continued to fall right.” The pilot reduced power, aborted the takeoff, and then the airplane departed the left side of the runway. Both occupants egressed the airplane and noted that the right main landing gear had collapsed. The pilot mentioned that the airplane “may have bounced a few times” during the takeoff. The maximum allowable gross weight for the airplane was 1,260 pounds. Calculations revealed that the airplane weighed approximately 1,315 pounds at takeoff. Examination of the collapsed landing gear in the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed no preexisting defects, and that the component failed in overstress bending due to landing gear loads consistent with forward movement of the airplane.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff earlier to prevent gear collapse.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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