Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA46-500TP near Phoenix, AZ — 2011-01-09

Final reportWPR11FA093
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Date
2011-01-09
Location
Phoenix, AZ, USA
Airport
KPHX
Aircraft
PIPER PA46-500TP
Registration
N5365D
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot did not maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was low nosewheel tire pressure.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, during the landing roll, the airplane veered right concurrent with him placing the propeller into reverse. The pilot attempted to realign the airplane with the runway, but it exited the right side of the paved surface. During the runway excursion, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing contacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear steering assembly revealed no anomalies; the nose landing gear steering travel and rake angle were within manufacturer’s prescribed limits. Examination of the 8-ply nose landing gear tire revealed that the tire was underinflated at 43 psi, whereas the manufacturer’s recommended pressure is 70 psi. According to a Customer Information Letter that addressed nose landing gear steering concerns, the manufacturer stated that a nosewheel tire inflated to 70 psi allowed better steering control forces and warned that an underinflated tire could increase forces associated with steering. The pilot reported that he did not check the tire inflation pressure during the preflight.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not check tire inflation pressure during preflight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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