# NTSB ANC11LA041: Eclipse EA500, N168TT, Nome, AK, June 2, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 2011, 21:40 local (Jun 2, 2011, 05:40 UTC) - Place: Nome, AK - Coordinates: 64.512222, -165.445281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.5122&lon=-165.4453&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Eclipse Aerospace, FAA, Fairbanks FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80720 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80720/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80720 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11LA041 ## Probable cause The pilot landed without lowering the landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly the airplane with an inoperative wing flap system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eclipse EA500, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3350000), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eclipse EA500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=3350000), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Alertness/Fatigue](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot; cases with it: [Eclipse EA500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md?model=3350000), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/cases.md) - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Eclipse EA500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=3350000), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) - [Flight control system: tE flap actuator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022752): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Eclipse EA500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022752/cases.md?model=3350000), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022752/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333); cases with it: [Eclipse EA500, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=3350000), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Eclipse EA500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=3350000), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Eclipse EA500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=3350000), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot indicated that, prior to the accident flight, the wing flaps had failed, but he decided to proceed with the flight contrary to the Airplane Flight Manual guidance. While conducting a no-flap approach to the airport, he decided that his airspeed was too fast to land, and he initiated a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane continued to descend, and the fuselage struck the runway. The pilot was able to complete the go-around, and realized that he had not extended the landing gear. He lowered the landing gear, and landed the airplane uneventfully. He elected to remain overnight at the airport due to fatigue. The next day, he decided to test fly the airplane. During the takeoff roll, the airplane had a severe vibration, and he aborted the takeoff. During a subsequent inspection, an aviation mechanic discovered that the center wing carry-through cracked when the belly skid pad deflected up into a stringer during the gear-up landing. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 2011, about 2140 Alaska daylight time, an Eclipse EA-500 Airplane, N168TT, sustained substantial damage during a go-around at the Nome Airport, Nome, Alaska. The commercial pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was in effect. The flight originated from the Ugolny Airport (UHMA), Anadyr, Russia. In a written statement to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot said that he was flying a visual approach to runway 10. He noticed that his airspeed was exceptionally high, but he elected to continue the approach. On short final to the runway, he realized that he was not going to be able to land, and decided to go-around. During the go-around procedure, the airplane’s fuselage contacted the runway. The pilot was able to continue flying the airplane, and realized that he had not extended the landing gear during the approach. He then lowered the landing gear, and landed the airplane uneventfully. He said that the only damage to the airplane he noticed was a broken antenna and some missing paint on the belly skid pad. The pilot was told that there were no U.S. Customs officers in Nome at the time, and that he would need to fly to Anchorage to clear customs. He said that he was very fatigued, and decided that he would fly to Anchorage the next morning. On June 2, the pilot decided to make a test flight before proceeding to Anchorage. During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a vibration that the pilot said felt “like a violent nose wheel shimmy.” He aborted the takeoff and elected to have the airplane inspected by a mechanic. Upon inspection, a mechanic discovered that the center wing carry-through structure was cracked when the belly skid pad deflected upward into a stringer that the structure was attached to. The pilot initially reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident, but later stated that the airplane flaps were inoperative during the accident flight. The pilot stated in an email that there was an indication of a flap failure, and that he had landed in Japan and Korea without the flaps. The IIC verified that the inboard flap actuator had over-traveled during retraction, and the flaps were stuck in the retracted position. According to the Eclipse Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), Section 3: “Emergency Procedures - Flaps”; a “FLAPS FAIL” caution message displayed by the Crew Alert System on the ground requires an action of “DO NOT FLY.” The airplane is equipped with a Diagnostic Storage Unit (DSU), which is capable of recording select airplane and flight parameters. Data from the DSU was downloaded after the accident flight and sent to the NSTB Vehicle Recorders Division for examination. The downloaded DSU data for the accident flight contained parameters regardingthe airplane's airspeed, altitude, pitch, heading, flap handle position, landing gear handle position, landing gear position, and engine thrust lever angle. The data retrieved from the DSU showed that, during the accident approach, the airplane's flap handle was in the up position, the airspeed during the approach never dropped below 140 knots, and the landing gear and landing gear handle remained in the up position. This data corroborates the pilot's account of the events. According to the Eclipse AFM, Section 7: “Landing Gear Warning,” a visual “CONFIG GEAR” warning, and aural “Landing Gear” warning sounds if any of the gear is not down and locked under three conditions: 1. Flaps extended to LDG setting and altitude below 12,500 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL). 2. Airspeed less than 120 knots, both throttles less than 30 percent, and altitude less than 12,500 feet MSL. 3. Airspeed between 120 and 140 knots, either throttle less than 30 percent, and altitude below 12,500 feet MSL. The airplane was also equipped with a Honeywell KGP-560 Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS). However, this model EGPWS does not provide aural warnings for flap or landing gear configuration. Under the conditions reported by the pilot, and supported by the DSU data, the airplane would not have generated a landing gear warning during the accident approach and landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N168TT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N168TT-2014-01-31), registration cancelled 2014-01-31, S/N 000042, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ECLIPSE AVIATION CORP EA500 - Registry model: [Eclipse EA500](https://openairdocs.org/model/eclipse-ea500) (registry code 3350000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw610f-a) (registry code 52267, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 000042 - Airframe hours: 343 - Engines: P&W CANADA PW610F-A 950 lbs thrust turbo fan; P&W CANADA PW610F-A 950 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 18, 2010 - Departed: UHMA, Anadyr - Destination: PAOM, Nome, AK - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PAOM, Nome, runway 10, 6,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; foreign, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,370 total, 205 in this make and model, 2,370 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: POAM ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110601025029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110601025029A), Jun 1, 2011: Eclipse Aviation Corp EA500, Nome, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot attempting to land at Nome in VFR conditions. Upon descent, he thought his airspeed was exceptionally high. After clearance to land was given, his… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 11, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80720. 796 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Mechanic (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mechanic-Master.PDF - Email Correspondence Regarding Flaps (item 3, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20Correspondence%20Regarding%20Flaps-Redacted.PDF - Eclipse AFM Excerpt - Flap Fail (item 4, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Eclipse%20AFM%20Excerpt%20-%20Flap%20Fail-Master.PDF - Eclipse AFM Excerpt - Gear Warning (item 5, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Eclipse%20AFM%20Excerpt%20-%20Gear%20Warning-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF 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. --- 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.