1989-06-16: Piper PA-34-200T — North American Ins OF Aviation

1989-06-16: Piper PA-34-200T — North American Ins OF Aviation — Las Cruces, NM

Casualties unknown • Las Cruces, NM, US

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNNION. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS: INADEQUATE INSPECTION PROCEDURE IN PIPER SERVICE BULLETIN #787A.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN. THE ACFT THEN VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY & WAS FURTHER DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNNION HAD FAILED. THE TRUNNION FAILED IN AN AREA THAT WAS ADDRESSED BY PIPER SERVICE BULLETIN #787A. SERVICE BULLETIN #787A REQUIRED AN INSPECTION OF THE TRUNNION AT THE 1ST 1000 HRS TIME IN SERVICE AND THEREAFTER AT INTERVALS NOT TO EXCEED 100 HRS UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED BY A MODIFIED TRUNNION. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 67 HRS SINCE THE LAST INSPECTION.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1989-06-16 Piper PA-34-200T accident near Las Cruces, NM?

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1989-06-16 involved a Piper PA-34-200T, registration N36345, operated by North American Ins OF Aviation, at Las Cruces, NM.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUNNION. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS: INADEQUATE INSPECTION PROCEDURE IN PIPER SERVICE BULLETIN #787A.

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