Dallas Love Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dallas, Texas 75220
Tuesady, February 24, 1998 15:35 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed. On a previous flight and during the approach on this flight, the aircraft experienced a total electrical failure. Following the first electrical failure, the battery was replaced by company maintenance personnel and the electrical system checked operational per the manufacturer procedures. The airframe Maintenance Manual inspection checklist states in part: Inspect wiring to engine and accessories, replace damaged wires and clamps, and inspect terminals for security. The section of the maintenance manual describing servicing the electrical system in part states: 'The security of all electrical connections should be checked.' Examination of the accident airplane revealed that the output lugs were broken off both alternators. NTSB Metallurgical examination of the fracture surfaces revealed 'no discernable fracture features. Both parts contained evidence of electrical arcing that caused significant melting of the separated ends.' A post-accident landing gear retraction test revealed no evidence of discrepancies with the landing gear system. Time since the last annual inspection was 12.7 hours.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The nose gear collapsed for an undetermined reason. A factor was the total electrical failure due to the separation of the alternator output lugs resulting from inadequate maintenance.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/24/1998
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1535
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City DALLAS
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75220
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DALLAS LOVE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DAL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 487
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1543 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID DAL
Elevation of weather observation facility 487
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 722
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 24 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1843
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9254X
NTSB Number FTW98LA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-46-350P
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-46-350P
Aircraft Serial Number 4622189
Certified Max Gross Weight 4318
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 21 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 313
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JRW AVIATION, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8605 LEMMON AVENUE #G
Aircraft Owner City DALLAS
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75209
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code T28
Departure City LAMPASAS
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31L
Runway Length 8800
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --