Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-180 near Three Rivers, MI — 2010-04-12

Final reportCEN10LA210
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Date
2010-04-12
Location
Three Rivers, MI, USA
Airport
HAI
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-180
Registration
N3470R
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during landing due to the failure of the left main landing gear torque link as a result of fatigue.

NTSB narrative

During a touch-and-go landing, the airplane veered to the left and the flight instructor attempted to correct to the right thinking the student applied the left brake. However, the airplane continued to veer to the left and the right wing struck the terrain. The airplane continued off the runway and came to rest in a field. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left aft spar was bent and fractured, the left main landing gear separated, and the main landing landing gear torque link was fractured. An NTSB Materials Laboratory examination of the torque link revealed the fracture face contained crack arrest marks typical of fatigue cracking that emanated from multiple origins at the surface of the wall on both sides of the link. The fatigue origin areas contained no evidence of gouge damage or corrosion damage. The fatigue cracks were the result of lateral stress produced during landing and taxi operations. Hardness testing of the material produced values greater than the minimum hardness value.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Instructor could have ensured proper brake usage before landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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