History of the Flight
On 4 October 2007, a Piper PA-38 Tomahawk, registration PH-WIM, departed from Farkashegy airfield for Prague. During the takeoff roll, at about one-third of the runway, the pilot heard a sharp clap and the aircraft banked slightly to the right. The pilot aborted the takeoff and attempted to keep the aircraft on the runway, but it did not respond accurately, swerved to the right, and left the runway at an acute angle. The aircraft ran into an uneven surface; first the right main landing gear broke, then the left one.
Damage to Aircraft
Substantial damage occurred. The nose gear folded toward the tail, both main landing gears were torn off, and the flaps were crinkled while in take-off position. The leading edge of the left wing was dented one meter from the end, the propeller was bent, and the cabin floor was deformed.
Injuries and Survival
There were no injuries to persons.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft, a Piper PA-38-112 (serial 38-78A0592), was owned by a private owner and operated by Fly for Fun B.V., The Netherlands. The 53-year-old male pilot held a valid PPL Category A license and medical certificate. He had 250 total flight hours, with 150 hours on type.
Wreckage and Examination
The aircraft came to a halt 68 meters beyond the end and 15 meters right of the runway edge. The left main landing gear was found 56.5 meters from the aircraft, and the right main landing gear was 100 meters from the aircraft. Both parts were lost during skidding. The IC impounded the main landing gear mounting bolts for analysis. A technical expert opinion stated that the bolts suffered fracture due to a dynamic shearing load; there was no evidence of fatigue or pre-accident cracks.
Analysis and Conclusions
The IC found no potholes on the landing strip that could have caused damage to the main landing gears. The wheels were freely turnable, and braking discs and shoes were undamaged. The expert opinion on the mounting elements showed no evidence of pre-accident cracks or wear indicating fatigue; material defect was unlikely. According to the pilot, there had been no hard or overweight landings prior to the incident. The fracture of the main landing gears and further damage are consequences of runway side excursion and the uneven surface of the runway.
The direct cause of the incident was the fracture of the inner mounting bolt of the right main landing gear. Despite the pilot's statement, the IC assumes that the indirect cause was a previous hard landing during which the mounting elements sustained a greater than usual load, causing excess strain and reduced bolt strength.
Safety Recommendation
The IC recommended that the National Transport Authority – Directorate for Air Transport order a one-time immediate check of the mounting bolts of the main landing gear for all PA-38 Tomahawk aircraft.