Amateur-built PULSAR XP SERIES I accident near Bremerton, Washington, April 30, 2014
On April 30, 2014 at about 5:55 pm local time, a 1998 amateur-built PULSAR XP SERIES I, registered N452PC, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bremerton, Washington (Bremerton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fatigue failure of the nose landing gear retention and pivot shaft, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the nose gear wheel and tire assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2014 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Bremerton, Washington · Bremerton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PULSAR XP SERIES I, built 1998
- Registration
- N452PC · registry record · serial 452
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, the builder/owner/pilot of the experimental kit-built airplane did not notice any abnormalities. While airborne, he received a radio call from personnel at the airport advising him that a nose landing gear wheel and tire assembly had been found on the runway; they stated that they believed it had separated from his airplane. The pilot flew back to the airport and conducted a low pass, and the airport personnel confirmed that the airplane was missing its nose gear wheel and tire assembly. After flying for about 30 minutes so appropriate emergency services preparations could be made, the pilot landed the airplane. During the landing roll, the airplane settled on its nose, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall. Examination of the airplane revealed that the steel shaft that attached the nose gear fork to the gear leg and functioned as its pivot axis had failed in reverse (bi-directional) bending fatigue. The underlying reason(s) for the fatigue failure could not be not determined. The pilot reported that similar previous failures had occurred on this model airplane. Because the kit manufacturer was no longer in business, some airplane owners had developed their own modifications to the nose gear assembly, but the accident airplane's nose gear had not been modified.
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
- Aircraft structural failure during takeoff defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear strut/axle › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear strut/axle › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 884 hours in all; 811 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 848 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 15, 2012
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 811 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 19, 2013; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,080 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 811 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWT Bremerton WA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: PWT Bremerton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from PWT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on October 27, 2015. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Airplane Information | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Communication Materials Laboratory | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Nose Gear Modification Information | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Metars | 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.