20031125036049I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Piper PA-23-250 · St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands · November 25, 2003

Date: November 25, 2003 · 12:00 local
Place: St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Airport: St Thomas/Cyril E King
Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: VAIA
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N5623Y
Reported as: Piper PA23250
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0

N5623YRegistration cancelled Mar 24, 2017 · Piper PA-23-250S/N 27-2733 · Built 1964 Airframe modelPiper PA-23-250 Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

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) On landing approach, pilot selected gear down and a heavy hydraulic leak was observed in the cockpit floor with no gear down safe indication. Emergency gear extension was activated but gears didn't come down. Gear up landing was performed with minor damage to the aircraft. Post accident investigation indicated that hydraulic power pack emergency handle piston "snap" ring failed causing total loss of hydraulic fluid and pressure. Although emergency gear extension system was activated as stated by pilot, emergency gear extension (CO2) cylinder was not discharged. Operation of system verified and founded satisfactory.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON LANDING APPROACH, PILOT SELECTED GEAR DOWN AND A HEAVY HYDRAULIC LEAK WAS OBSERVED IN THE COCKPIT FLOOR WITH NO GEAR DOWN SAFE INDICATION. EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION WAS ACTIVATED BUT GEARS DIDN'T COME DOWN. GEAR UP LANDING WAS PERFORMED WITH MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT HYDRAULIC POWER PACK EMERGENCY HANDLE PISTON "SNAP" RING FAILED CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AND PRESSURE. ALTHOUGH EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AS STATED BY PILOT, EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION (CO2) CYLINDER WAS NOT DISCHARGED. OPERATION OF SYSTEM VERIFIED AND FOUNDED SATISFACTORY.

Other reports on N5623Y · 3

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

Incident 20030120007709IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Isla De Culebra, PR(-23) After landing right main landing gear collapsed on roll out.Jan 20, 2003 · Minor damage Incident 19930812035179ILevel Off Touchdown · St Barthelemy, U.S. Virgin IslandsEncountered gusty winds on approach. Made a hard landing, made go around, landed safely. Damaged left gear.Aug 12, 1993 · Minor damage Incident 19930606030319IGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Charlotte Amali, U.S. Virgin IslandsPilot struck a parked aircraft while maneuvering aircraft to gate. Pilot terminated by his employer.Jun 6, 1993 · Minor damage