Primary finding
Probable cause
the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left and departed the runway. The student pilot stated that his attempt to regain directional control using the right rudder pedal was unsuccessful. The airplane veered off the runway, spun around, and the right main gear collapsed. Postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear bolt had failed. The right main landing gear bolt was examined further at the NTSB metallurgical laboratory. The examination revealed that the landing gear bolt failed as a result of tensile overstress.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 11, 1996, at 1233 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N91493, veered off the runway during initial takeoff roll on runway 14 at Salisbury-Wicomico County Regional Airport, Salisbury, Maryland. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The solo instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Langhorne, Pennsylvania, at 0955, and was departing with an intended destination of Langhorne when the accident occurred. The student pilot reported that he was attempting to takeoff on runway 14, and as the airplane approached takeoff speed, the airplane began to veer to the left. He said, "...I tried to give it right pedal, the landing gear was just barely touching the ground and was bouncing, I immediately pulled the throttle back when I [saw] I was getting near to the grass. I couldn't manage to correct...the aircraft touched the grass it spun completely around and as it did, it broke off the right main gear... ." At the time of the accident, winds were reported to be out of 060 degrees at 5 knots. The airplane was examined at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspector. The Inspector stated that the right main landing gear bolt had failed. The right main landing gear bolt was transported to the NTSB Lab in Washington, DC, for further examination. The examination revealed that the right landing gear bolt failed as a result of tensile overstress. -