Tacoma Narrows Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tacoma, Washington 98335
Friday, May 30, 2008 11:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After landing and during the roll out the right main landing gear collapsed. An examination of the landing gear revealed that the right main landing gear inboard clevis, which serves as the connection between the inboard hydraulic actuating cylinder to the main landing gear body, had failed. A metallurgical examination of the clevis fracture region revealed that it had failed in overstress. No preexisting cracks or corrosion were noted at the fracture and the laboratory could not determine an underlying reason for the overstress fracture. The main landing gear is retained in the down and locked position by hydraulic pressure being applied to the inboard main landing gear actuating cylinder, as well as being assisted by the outboard main landing gear (hydraulic-pneumatic) actuating cylinder. Additionally, bungee cords attached to the main landing gear drag braces assures that the main landing gear is locked and retained in the down position. As a result of these redundant features that are designed to ensure that the main landing gear is locked in the down position, the gear collapse cannot be positively attributed to the failure of the clevis. During a post accident examination of the right main landing gear a replacement clevis was installed and multiple landing gear extension and retraction cycles were performed. The landing gear system, including the proper sequencing of all components, operated correctly and no anomalies were noted. The reason for the landing gear collapse was undetermined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The collapse of the right main landing gear for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Tacoma
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98335
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 471604N
Event Location Longitude 1223441W
Event Location Airport Tacoma Narrows
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TIW
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 294
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID TIW
Elevation of weather observation facility 294
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24910
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date May 30 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 26 2009 9:26AM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Seattle, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N115AB
NTSB Number SEA08LA147
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AERO COMMANDER
Aircraft Model 690A
Aircraft Series Identifier A
Aircraft Serial Number 11231
Certified Max Gross Weight 10325
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 16 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0.7
Airframe Hours 7673.1
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Daedalus Enterprises LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Great Falls
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59401
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Thomas D Klemans
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Tacoma
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98075
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TIW
Departure City Tacoma
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TIW
Destination City Tacoma
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 8 2009 2:23PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 5002
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --