20190716011849I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Beech F33A · Carlsbad, CA · July 16, 2019

Date: July 16, 2019 · 10:39 local
Place: Carlsbad, CA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N18429
Reported as: Beech F33A
Reported engine: Continental IO-520 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 560 total120 in this make and model6 in the last 90 days

N18429Registered now · Beech F33AS/N CE-937 Airframe modelBeech F33A Engine modelContinental IO-520 seriesReciprocating

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.

After departure from kcrq, during climbout to cruise from 5000-9000 feet, the PIC noticed a discharge on the ammeter. The PIC canceled his IFR flight plan and returned to kcrq. The PIC did not troubleshoot the electrical issue. The AFM states that there is a warning light for the alternator, but that it does not go on until the output is almost zero. The PIC stated there was no light illuminated at the time.

Approximately 2 miles from the airport, N18429 was cleared to land on 24. Upon receiving the clearance, the PIC lowered the gear. As the gear was in transit, the electrical system failed, which caused the gear to only be partially extended and not locked into place.

The PIC checked the position of the gear, by use of the two mirrors on the wingtips. However, he was unable to confirm that the gear was locked down via the mirrors. The PIC did not attempt to manually extend the gear. Upon touchdown, the gear folded back up into the aircraft, resulting in a gear collapse landing.

As the FAA filed it

AFTER DEPARTURE FROM KCRQ, DURING CLIMBOUT TO CRUISE FROM 5000-9000 FEET, THE PIC NOTICED A DISCHARGE ON THE AMMETER. THE PIC CANCELED HIS IFR FLIGHT PLAN AND RETURNED TO KCRQ. THE PIC DID NOT TROUBLESHOOT THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE AFM STATES THAT THERE IS A WARNING LIGHT FOR THE ALTERNATOR, BUT THAT IT DOES NOT GO ON UNTIL THE OUTPUT IS ALMOST ZERO. THE PIC STATED THERE WAS NO LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME.

APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, N18429 WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON 24. UPON RECEIVING THE CLEARANCE, THE PIC LOWERED THE GEAR. AS THE GEAR WAS IN TRANSIT, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE GEAR TO ONLY BE PARTIALLY EXTENDED AND NOT LOCKED INTO PLACE.

THE PIC CHECKED THE POSITION OF THE GEAR, BY USE OF THE TWO MIRRORS ON THE WINGTIPS. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THE GEAR WAS LOCKED DOWN VIA THE MIRRORS. THE PIC DID NOT ATTEMPT TO MANUALLY EXTEND THE GEAR. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE GEAR FOLDED BACK UP INTO THE AIRCRAFT, RESULTING IN A GEAR COLLAPSE LANDING.