# Accident 19960517010749A: Swrngn SA226TC, Fargo, ND, May 17, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 17, 1996, 08:15 local time
- Place: Fargo, ND
- Airport: Hector International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: BDHA
- Location: 46.9292° N, 96.8301° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9292&lon=-96.8301&mi=10
- Aircraft: N229AM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N229AM-2003-07-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Swearingen SA226TC (registry code 8780404, https://openairdocs.org/model/swearingen-sa226tc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: AiResearch TPE331 series (registry code 01514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SWRNGN SA226TC
- Reported engine: GARRTT TPE33110U
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,293 total, 319 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96LA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA162) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960517010749A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT NOSE GEAR FAILED TO LOWER AND LANDED WITHOUT NOSE GEAR, NO INDICATION THAT THE GEAR HAD NOT LOWERED. (.4)WHILE ON SHORT FINAL TO LAND, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND LANDED WITH THE NOSE LANDING GEAR STILL IN THE UPLOCKED POSITION. THE MAINTENANCE LOGBOOK INDICATES SEVERAL UNDETERMINED NOSE GEAR UPLOCK CONDITIONS THAT THE FLIGHT CREWS HAD TO LOWER THE NOSE GEAR BY FREE FALLING IT.  ALL FLIGHTS WERE UNEVENTFUL UP UNTIL THIS FLIGHT.  A TRANSCRIPT OF THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER (CVR), INDICATED THAT THE BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST WAS NOT COMPLETED CORRECTLY.  THE LANDING GEAR CHALLENGE AND REPLY CHECKLIST WAS RECORDED AS SAYING LANDING GEAR COMING DOWN, WITH A HORN BEEPING IN THE BACKGROUND.  THE PILOT'S OPERATING HANDBOOK (POH) SAYS, LANDING GEAR--DOWN, WITH NO REPORT OF THREE GREEN DOWN AND LOCKED LIGHTS.                                                 (-23) PILOT STATED THAT ON FINAL APPROACH HE VERIFIED HE HAD THREE GREEN (GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED) INDICATIONS. UPON LANDING NOSE SETTLED ON RUNWAY AND AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT NOSE GEAR BEING EXTENDED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI96LA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA162), May 17, 1996: Swearingen SA226TC (N229AM), Fargo, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: the flight crew did not comply with the gear down and lock checklist. The factors were a jammed nose gear and inattentive preflight planning/preparations by the pilot-in-command.

## Other reports on N229AM (4)

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

- [Accident 20030415009089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030415009089A), Apr 15, 2003: Swrngn SA226TC (N229AM), Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) PIC landed on runway 35L with the main gear in the retracted position and the nose gear partilly extended but not locked. The investigation is ongoing at…
- [Incident 19890719040189I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890719040189I), Jul 19, 1989: Swrngn SA226TC (N229AM), Sioux City, IA. No nose gear down safe light. Used emergency procedures. Landed safely. Wire on down lock switch was broken.
- [Incident 19881026061039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881026061039I), Oct 26, 1988: Swrngn SA226TC (N229AM), Wichita, KS, Minor damage. Unable to extend left gear, landed gear up. Metal skin on gear door caught under nacelle jamming gear door.
- [Incident 19860715041879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860715041879I), Jul 15, 1986: Swrngn SA226TC (N229AM), Nashville, TN. Descended below assigned altitude due to misunderstanding. ATC did not correct readback. Loss of separation.

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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