Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot failed to flare the airplane properly and the airplane landed hard.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
On July 24, 1998, at 1530 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N177ND, operated by Midwest Aviation, was substantially damaged during landing. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed Marshall Municipal Airport, Marshall, Minnesota, and was landing at the destination airport, Salina Municipal Airport, Salina, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that he was 10 feet above the runway when he started the flare. He reported that when the main landing gear contacted the runway he let the yoke go forward. He reported, "All of a sudden the nose of the plane was on the runway and I [went] skidding to the right. I had skidded all the way across the runway and onto the grass."
The inspection of the airplane revealed that the right main gear forward trunion bearing broke downward while the aft trunion broke upward causing damage to the top side of the wing. The same action caused damage to the top side of the left wing.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI98LA284