DAYTONA BEACH, FL, USA
N257ER
PIPER PA-44
WHILE DEMONSTRATING A SHORT FIELD LANDING IN STRONG CROSSWINDS THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE WHEN CLOSE TO THE GROUND AND TOUCHED DOWN HARDER THAN NORMAL. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR BROKE FREE FROM THE AIRPLANE AND THE INSTRUCTOR WAS ABLE TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND WITH THE GEAR HANGING BY THE BRAKE LINE. DURING EMERGENCY PROCEDURE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMPANY, THE GEAR BROKE FREE AND IT FELL INTO A WOODED AREA. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE AT DAYTONA BEACH, AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN THE GRASS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE STRUT OUTER BARREL REVEALED AN AREA OF FATIGUE HALF WAY THROUGH THE WALL DIAMETER AT THE POINT WHERE THE TRUNNION WEB JOINS THE BARREL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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