Eau Claire Co Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702
Tuesady, May 14, 1991 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A RUNWAY LIGHT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR TRUNNION ON THE LOWER FILLET OF THE WEB ON THE TRUNNION. METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED THE FAILURE PROPAGATED FROM GRINDING MARKS MADE DURING THE MANUFACTURING FINISHING PROCESS. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED IN 1985 BY THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESSING THE INSPECTION OF THIS AREA FOR CRACKS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE INADEQUATE FINISHING PROCEDURES USED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S BULLETIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/14/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City EAU CLAIRE
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54702
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EAU CLAIRE CO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EAU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 904
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID EAU
Elevation of weather observation facility 904
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 655
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44921
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8356B
NTSB Number CHI91LA157
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34-220T
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-220T
Aircraft Serial Number 34-8133D38
Certified Max Gross Weight 4750
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROJO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2807 UNIVERSITY AVE
Aircraft Owner City WATERLOO
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROJO
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2807 UNIVERSITY AVE
Operator City WATERLOO
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 50701
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ALO
Departure City WATERLOO
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 4999
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --