Sunday, April 28, 2019

Landing Gear Collapse: Waco UPF 7, N134Q, accident occurred July 03, 2017 and Incident occurred June 16, 2018 at McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport (KSSI), Brunswick, Glynn County, Georgia

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms 
 
http://registry.faa.gov/N134Q 


Location: Brunswick, GA
Accident Number: ERA17LA253
Date & Time: 07/03/2017, 1630 EDT
Registration: N134Q
Aircraft: WACO UPF 7
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Landing gear collapse
Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis 

The commercial pilot reported that, while taxiing for takeoff, the right main landing gear (MLG) strut brace broke at the fuselage attachment point, which resulted in the right MLG collapsing and the outboard portion of the lower right wing sustaining substantial damage. The pilot moved the airplane from the taxiway, repaired the strut brace by welding it back onto the fuselage where it had broken, and then towed the airplane to his hangar.

The pilot's welding of the strut brace back onto the fuselage at the point where it had broken precluded an examination of the fracture surfaces. The reason for the strut's failure could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The failure of the right main landing gear strut brace for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Findings

Aircraft
Gear attach fittings (on fus) - Failure (Cause)

Not determined
Not determined - Unknown/Not determined (Cause)


Factual Information

On July 03, 2017, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a Waco UPF 7, N134Q, experienced a landing gear collapse while taxing at the McKinnon St Simons Island Airport (SSI), Brunswick, Georgia. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.

According to the pilot, while taxiing for takeoff the right landing gear strut brace failed at the fuselage attachment point. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to a complete stop on the taxiway. He inspected the airplane and noted that the right outboard lower wing was buckled. The pilot later received permission from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector to remove the airplane from the taxiway. He hoisted the airplane, repaired the strut brace and towed the airplane back to the hangar.

Examination the airplane by a Federal Aviation administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the outboard section of the lower right wing was substantially damaged. Examination of the landing gear strut brace revealed that it broke at the fuselage attachment point. Further examination revealed that the pilot had welded the strut back onto the airplane at the point where it had broken, which prevented a more detailed examination of the fracture surface. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Commercial; Flight Engineer
Age: 60, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/27/2016
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 04/28/2016
Flight Time: (Estimated) 25000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 10100 hours (Total, this make and model), 18000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 136 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 49 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: WACO
Registration: N134Q
Model/Series: UPF 7 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1940
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 5484
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 3
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/06/2017, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3095 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 35 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: W670 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 250 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: SSI, 19 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1653 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR): 
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 160°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 27°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Brunswick, GA (SSI)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Brunswick, GA (SSI)
Type of Clearance: None 
Departure Time: 1630 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: MCKINNON ST SIMONS ISLAND (SSI)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 18 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 None
Latitude, Longitude:  31.151944, -81.391111 (est)

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia

June 16, 2018:   Aircraft while taxiing on the ramp struck Robinson R44 Raven II, N294PJ, while is was being pushed out of the hangar. 

Date: 16-JUN-18
Time: 15:15:00Z
Regis#: N134Q
Aircraft Make: WACO
Aircraft Model: UPF 7
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)
Operation: 91
City: BRUNSWICK
State: GEORGIA

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