19980808037729A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA31350 · Alamosa, CO · August 8, 1998

Date: August 8, 1998
Place: Alamosa, CO
Airport: San Luis Valley/Bergman Field
Phase of flight: Go Round (Aborted VFR)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N27196
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW98LA350
Reported as: Piper PA31350
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23)While the aircraft was on approach to the Alamosa, CO airport, the pilot reported failure of the left engine. The pilot feathered the prop and attempted to lower the gear; the gear came down only partially. Pilot attempted emergency extension without success. The pilot attempted a go-around, but was unsuccessful because of the increased drag of the gear. The aircraft landed in a cow pasture one mile south of the airport and sustained substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

(-23)WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON APPROACH TO THE ALAMOSA, CO AIRPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED FAILURE OF THE LEFT ENGINE. THE PILOT FEATHERED THE PROP AND ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE GEAR; THE GEAR CAME DOWN ONLY PARTIALLY. PILOT ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY EXTENSION WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED DRAG OF THE GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN A COW PASTURE ONE MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW98LA350Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAlamosa, COImproper major overhaul of the engine by the overhaul facility. Factors were failure of the V-band clamp, the melting of the baffle and manifold clamp, and the pilot not being able to extend the landing gear.Aug 8, 1998 · Substantial damage