Tucson International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tucson, Arizona 85706
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 8:40 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The nose wheel broke during a hard landing substantially damaging the airplane's firewall. The accident occurred during the student pilot's first supervised solo flight. The student's certified flight instructor reported that the airplane porpoised two times during the landing rollout. The 30-year-old airplane's total time was over 9,500 hours. An examination of the nose wheel assembly revealed 1/2 of the wheel had broken due to excessive side load pressure. The pressure allowed the assembly's snap ring to release wheel components thereby impeding the nose wheel's rotation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's improper flare that induced a porpoise, which resulted in the overload failure of the nose wheel assembly.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/18/2005
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 840
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Tucson
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85706
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 320658N
Event Location Longitude 1105628W
Event Location Airport Tucson International Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KTUS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2643
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 855 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID TUS
Elevation of weather observation facility 2643
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20110
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 18 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 31 2006 10:47AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Scottsdale, AZ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9017H
NTSB Number LAX05LA180
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17265901
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21.3
Airframe Hours 9520.6
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Timothy M. Amalong
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Tucson
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85754
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name New Mexico Flying Eagle Inc
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6971 S. Apron Drive
Operator City Tucson
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85706
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TUS
Departure City Tucson
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 750
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 18 2006 5:47PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11R
Runway Length 8408
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --