# Incident 19960121004049I: Beech C24R, Sturgis, MI, January 21, 1996

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 21, 1996
- Place: Sturgis, MI
- Airport: Kirsch Municipal Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8133° N, 85.4390° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KIRSCH MUNI (IRS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8133&lon=-85.4390&mi=10
- Aircraft: N18909, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18909) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech C24R (registry code 1151254, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c24r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C24R
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1B6
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,400 total, 200 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960121004049I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: BROKEN WIRE IN LANDING GEAR ACTUATION SYSTEM CAUSED SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN AIRCRAFT HAVING TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY LANDING. MR. J.A. LAURE, PIC OF N18909, A BEECH 23-C24R, ENROUTE FROM NEWMAN AIRPORT (AZO) KALAMAZOO, MI TO KIRSCH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (IRS) STURGIS, MI COULD NOT GET AN INDICATION OF HIS NOSE GEAR BEING IN THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION, AFTER ENTERING THE DOWNWIND IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING AT IRS. SUBJECT PILOT RECYCLED THE GEAR 4 TIMES, ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY EXTENSION TWICE, TRIED THREE ADDITIONAL ATTEMPTS AT LOWERING THE GEAR WHILE PULLING 2GS ON THE AIRFRAME, ALL ATTEMPTS RESULTED IN NO INDICATION OF DOWN AND LOCKED FROM THE NOSE GEAR. LAURE MADE A LOW PASS OVER THE FIELD FOR GROUND OBSERVANCE OF HIS LANDING GEAR POSITION, AT WHICH TIME HE WAS ADVISED THE GEAR APPEARED TO BE IN PROPER POSITION FOR LANDING. AFTER LANDING AND APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS ROLL OUT THE NOSE GEAR TOUCHED DOWN AND COLLAPSED. AS THE NOSE FELL THROUGH, THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID ON ITS NOSE APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 100 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. NO INJURIES INCURRED BY THE PILOT DURING EGRESS. ON SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT'S LOWER NOSE COWLING AND THE PROPELLER BLADE TIPS CURLED BACK APPROXIMATELY 7 INCHES. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE IS SUBJECT TO THE AD INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGINE SUDDEN STOPPAGE. ASSISTANCE WITH ON SITE INSPECTION FROM A MECHANIC/IA, DAVID PRATT, REVEALED A BROKEN WIRE IN A SPLICE TO THE NOSE GEAR POSITION SWITCH IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE BROKEN WIRE CAUSED THE HYDRAULIC PUMP TO CEASE FUNCTION PRIOR TO SUFFICIENT SYSTEM PRESSURE BUILD UP FOR PROPER GEAR OPERATION.

## Other reports on N18909 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19790823023249I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790823023249I), Aug 23, 1979: Beech C24R (N18909), Lawrenceville, IL, Minor damage. Hard landing broke nose wheel off.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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