PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 13; Flight Crew Total 396; Flight Crew Type 286
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action; General Evacuated
Aircraft
Here is a detail of my flight:- Received standard briefing and filed a VFR flight plan using ForeFlight app on my iPad.- Preflighted aircraft using checklist and no abnormalities were noticed.- Briefed my passenger on seat belt use and door operation if needing to exit the aircraft.- Performed normal engine startup; taxi; flight controls check; flight instruments check. All checks oaky.- Performed engine magnetos and carb heat check; all checks okay.- Input flight plan into Garmin 430 GPS unit; set transponder squawk to ALT; 1200 for VFR flight.- Announced takeoff intentions on CTAF; visually cleared the runway approach; entered runway; lined up on runway centerline; applied takeoff power; and performed normal takeoff.- Departed pattern; climbed to 3;100 MSL on 315 degree magnetic course.- Contacted approach; received squawk code and received traffic advisories.- Within 10 NM of [arrival airport]; requested termination of traffic advisories from approach; received approval for VFR squawk code and approval frequency change.- Changed to [arrival airport] CTAF; announced 10 miles southeast at 3;000 MSL and intention to land.- Began descent to 2;500 MSL; approximately 6 NM from [arrival airport].- Tuned AWOS; report was winds 360 at 7; clear; 10 miles visibility; and altimeter 30.29- Announced intention to overfly field at 2;500 MSL 4 miles out; then proceeded to do so in order to travel west of the field and join the runway left downwind with a pattern entry at 45 degrees.- At 2 NM west of field; descended to 1;500 MSL; entered left downwind; and set up for a normal landing.- Abeam the runway touchdown point; reduced power to 1500 RPM; slowed to below flap speed; set 1 notch flaps; trimmed for normal descent to land.- At proper point; announced and turned left base; set 2nd notch of flaps continued descent.- Announced and turned final for runway; lined up with runway centerline; set 3rd notch flaps; reduced power.- Upon reaching short final approach; I reduced power to idle; speed was normal; I performed a normal flare; and a soft touchdown occurred beyond the runway displaced threshold line- At touchdown; I immediately sensed an abnormal; oscillating ground track; a rattling sound; and the aircraft had a strong pull toward the left. To correct this abnormal pull to the left; I immediately applied full right rudder and full right aileron control inputs and this corrected the aircraft ground roll track to again be lined up with runway centerline. My thought at that instant was that I may have a flat left tire.- I retracted flaps to 0 degrees and maintained above control inputs to maintain track along runway centerline - During the ground-roll; the aircraft was always in a slightly nose high attitude; and a lower than normal; left wing attitude.- As the aircraft slowed and wings lost all lift; the left wing dropped way below normal height and a loud scraping sound ensued; emanating from the left side of aircraft. At that point; I knew I had an extreme landing gear issue; and I assumed the wingtip may be scraping on the runway.- As the aircraft slowed to very slow taxi speed; the aircraft's pull to the left became very strong; and the aircraft gradually headed toward the center grass median to the left of the runway. My thought here was to now try and get the damaged plane off the paved runway because I thought the wing tip was scraping the runway surface; and I feared that this would cause heat buildup; and possibly a fire due to fuel in wing tanks.- I entered the grass median; and the plane came to a complete stop within 10 feet. I leaned the fuel mixture control to engine cutoff setting; turned off master switch; and magnetos.- At that point; I and my passenger immediately exited the aircraft; and airport personnel had arrived to assist.In closing; I have to say I feel great about the fact that I was able to maintain control of the aircraft all the way to stopping and engine shutdown; and that nobody was hurt at all.
Reporter indicated that no defects were noted during the preflight. A failure of the left main landing gear trailing arm torque link allowed the oleo strut outer housing to rotate. Without the attachment; the housing along with the wheel; tire and brake assembly departed from the aircraft during landing.
The pilot of a single engine; fixed landing gear Piper experienced a failure of the left main landing gear during landing; resulting in a runway excursion.