# Accident 19980509015569A: Gulstm 500A, Billings, MT, May 9, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 9, 1998, 11:05 local time - Place: Billings, MT - Airport: Billings Logan International - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Operator: HYSA - Location: 45.8078° N, 108.5435° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BILLINGS LOGAN INTL (BIL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8078&lon=-108.5435&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9382R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9382R-2003-07-21) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Aero Commander 500-B (registry code 0141106, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A (registry code 41535, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-igso-540-b1a) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GULSTM 500A - Reported engine: LYC IO540E1A5 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 1,420 total, 215 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA073) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980509015569A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND OR RETRACT. UPON LANDING, LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED WITH RESULTING DAMAGE TO UNDERSIDE OF AIRCRAFT. THE CAUSE OF LANDING GEAR FAILURE WAS FOUND TO BE CORRODED UPPER AND LOWER LANDING GEAR STRUT INNER TO OUTER STRUT BODY NEEDLE BEARINGS. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT, AFTER TAKEOFF, THE LEFT-MAIN LANDING GEAR WOULD NOT FULLY RETRACT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THEN EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR AND PERFORMED VARIOUS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN AN ATTEMPT TO FULLY EXTEND THE LEFT-MAIN. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE LEFT-MAIN TO LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION AND ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE WITH THE RIGHT-MAIN AND NOSEWHEEL EXTENDED. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT-MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SLID TO A STOP. INSPECTION OF THE LEFT-MAIN LANDING GEAR REVEALED THAT THE UPPER-MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT'S OUTER-BODY TO INNER-BODY NEEDLE BEARING HAD FAILED, AND THE LOWER NEEDLE BEARING WAS NEAR FAILURE. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION IN THIS AREA WAS NOTED, ALONG WITH EVIDENCE OF SEVERE CORROSION DEVELOPMENT. THE MANUFACTURER'S INSPECTION PROGRAM FOR THIS MODEL AIRCRAFT DOES NOT ADDRESS A CALENDAR AND/OR TIME INSPECTION INTERVAL, OR LUB RICATION INTERVAL FOR THE UPPER AND LOWER NEEDLE BEARING. ## 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 SEA98LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA073), May 9, 1998: Aero Commander 500-A (N9382R), Billings, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the main landing gear strut outer-body to inner-body needle bearing from the lack of lubrication and the development of corrosion. An inadequate manufacturer's inspection program was a… ## Other reports on N9382R (4) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20020226002909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020226002909I), Feb 26, 2002: Gulstm 500A (N9382R), Billings, MT. (-23) During cruise at 12,000 ft. the LH engine began to surge and the aircraft yawed left and the pilot noticed the left engine running rough. Occurrence… - [Incident 19940210049049I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940210049049I), Feb 10, 1994: Gulstm 500A (N9382R), Twin Falls, ID, Minor damage. The pilot of an aero commander AC-500 was maneuvering the aricraft from the non movement area to the taxi, run up area for the purpose of performing the de-ice… - [Incident 19850719042679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850719042679I), Jul 19, 1985: Gulstm 500A (N9382R), Grand Forks, ND, Minor damage. Gear was retracted instead of flaps during landing rollout. - [Incident 19801223087989I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801223087989I), Dec 23, 1980: Rkwell 500B (N9382R), Minot, ND, Minor damage. Unable to extend left gear before landing. Gear was hung on gear door due to low strut extension. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.