Piper PA46-500TP N61PK

Summary

On 28 April 2001 at about 21:45 local time, a Piper PA46-500TP registered N61PK was involved in an accident near Rockwall, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 April 2001 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Rockwall, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Rockwall Municipal (F46)

Coordinates

32.9205, -96.4507

Aircraft

Piper PA46-500TP

Registration

N61PK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hattiesburg → Rockwall

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW01FA107

Nobody was injured.

the loss of directional control during landing roll as a result of insufficient nose gear steering authority.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After the Piper Malibu Meridian touched down on the runway, it started to veer right. Rudder control inputs were ineffective, and the airplane continued off the right side of the runway. With the airplane heading toward hangars and bystanders, the pilot elected to abort the landing. He applied full power, and the airplane began to turn back toward the runway. The airplane drug its left wing along an embankment, continued onto the departure end of the runway and struck a runway end identifier light. The airplane crossed a road, struck a fence, small trees, and continued over uneven terrain collapsing the landing gear before coming to a stop. No pre-impact anomalies with the aircraft were identified during the post-accident examination. The aircraft manufacturer conducted numerous taxi and flight tests in an attempt to duplicate what the pilot reported. Tests consisted of normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings, high-speed taxi testing, and landing and taxi tests using "abnormal, abusive nose steering techniques." No anomalies were noted, and the pull to the right was not duplicated; however, the manufacturer issued Service Bulletin No. 1106, which "recommends mandatory incorporation" of nose gear installation modifications that increase the pilot's steering authority.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.