Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40 N323JT accident near Norwood, Massachusetts

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in excessive side loads to the right main landing gear and the separation of the outer main landing gear rib from the right wing.

NTSB analysis

After the airplane touched down during the student pilot's first solo landing in the composite, fixed tricycle-gear airplane, his flight instructor observed the right wing rise and the nose pitch up slightly, then heard the sound of screeching tires. The right main landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. Marks on the runway, along with damage to the landing gear tires, revealed that after touching down, the airplane entered a left skidding turn with only the nose and left main landing gear tires in contact with the runway. Near the end of the turn, the right main landing gear tire deflated when it contacted the runway in a skid. The right main landing gear metal wheel rim then contacted the runway, also in a skid, resulting in excessive side loading to the right main landing gear and separation of the landing gear and outer landing gear rib from the right wing. Winds at the time were calm. An examination of the bonded area between the rib and the vertical webbing of the forward and aft wing spars, and between the rib and the inside surface of the upper wing skin, revealed void areas in the adhesive. However, calculations indicated that the void areas would not have affected the outcome of the event due to the extent of the excessive side forces subjected to the landing gear.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09LA295 for the full record.