Summary
On November 26, 1995, a Schafer LANCAIR 360 (N56DS) was involved in an incident near Mesa, AZ. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: Failure of the nose gear strut, during landing.
On November 25, 1995, at 1710 hours mountain standard time, the nose gear of a homebuilt Schafer Lancair 360, N56DS, collapsed during the landing roll on runway 30L at Williams-Gateway Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The pilot was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot's wife, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Williams-Gateway Airport at 1610 hours.
The pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. On the last landing, the airplane touched down on the main wheels and the nose lowered onto the runway.
This incident is documented in NTSB report LAX96LA055. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N56DS.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
failure of the nose gear strut, during landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On November 25, 1995, at 1710 hours mountain standard time, the nose gear of a homebuilt Schafer Lancair 360, N56DS, collapsed during the landing roll on runway 30L at Williams-Gateway Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The pilot was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot's wife, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Williams-Gateway Airport at 1610 hours.
The pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings and takeoffs. On the last landing, the airplane touched down on the main wheels and the nose lowered onto the runway. About 2 or 3 seconds later, the pilot heard a thump under the tail of the airplane. Thereafter, the nose gear lowered and the propeller struck the runway.
The pilot was able to raise the airplane's nose momentarily, and as the air speed depleted, the nose lowered again and the airplane skidded down the runway on the upper section of the nose gear strut. Later, the upper section of the strut lodged in a crack in the runway and broke off. The airplane subsequently came to a stop after it momentarily became airborne.
The pilot also said in the report that the front "fork to [the] strut attachment [bolts]" failed. The Safety Board's investigator-in-charge asked the pilot to submit the bolts for metallurgical examination, but he elected not to.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX96LA055