Piper Aircraft INC PA46R-350T accident near York, Pennsylvania, December 30, 2020
On December 30, 2020 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2008 Piper Aircraft INC PA46R-350T, registered N463ST, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near York, Pennsylvania (York airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An improper weld repair of the engine mount, which resulted in a fatigue failure of the mount and subsequent nose landing gear collapse. Contributing to the accident was maintenance personnel’s failure to accomplish the manufacturer’s service bulletin pertaining to engine mount inspections.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 2020 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- York, Pennsylvania · York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper Aircraft INC PA46R-350T, built 2008
- Registration
- N463ST · no longer on the register · serial 4692073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing rollout at the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the nose landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination revealed the engine mount had failed, allowing the nose landing gear (NLG) actuator to impinge the firewall resulting in substantial damage. Further examination of the engine mount revealed that the right-side NLG actuator attachment foot failed from fatigue. The area had been previously repaired by welding, and old resolidified metal was found inside the crack surfaces. The previous weld repair was of poor quality and occurred prior to the owner/pilot purchasing the airplane. There was no documentation of the repair in the maintenance records. Inspection of the engine mount was addressed by a service bulletin (SB) issued by the airframe manufacturer, and there was no record of its compliance during the latest annual inspection of the airplane. The SB also called for the replacement of cracked engine mounts as repairs were not permitted.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Engine attach fitting (on fus) › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Engine attach fitting (on fus) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Engine attach fitting (on fus) › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,598 hours in all; 188 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 1,598 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,631 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 4,340 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 1,631 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: XSA Tappahannock VA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17/3, 5,188 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KTHV
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTHV 302053Z AUTO 17005KT 10SM CLR 06/M07 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP232 T00561067 56034
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on October 21, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Memorandum for Record - FAA Damage Assessment | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts - Aircraft Maintenance Logbooks | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Memorandum for Record - Owner's Aircraft Logbook Review | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 21-066 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Piper Service Bulletin 1103F | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.