# NTSB ANC83IA150: Piper PA-31-350, N200VF, Anchorage, AK, August 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1983, 17:45 local (Aug 20, 1983, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.159412, -149.989898 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1594&lon=-149.9899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4092
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83IA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4092/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83IA150

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - landing gear,main gear - failure,total (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear - separation
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING TAKEOFF AT KODIAK, AK, THE WHEEL & LOWER SHAFT OF THE LEFT STRUT ASSY SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE PLT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS RETRACTING THE GEAR, HE FELT A BUMP & GOT AN UNSAFE GEAR LIGHT. HE IMMEDITAELY EXTENDED THE GEAR & FLEW BY THE TOWER & WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEFT GEAR APPEARED TO BE MISSING. THE PLT THEN FLEW TO ANCHORAGE WHERE HE COULD LAND ON A FOAMED RWY. HE WAS UNABLE TO RETRACT THE GEAR. BEFORE LANDING, HE SHUT DOWN & SECURED THE LEFT ENG. THE LEFT WING RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE DURING THE LANDING. AN EXAM OF THE TOP MAIN GEAR BEARING REVEALED THAT 2 OF 4 RETAINING PINS, PN 01821-06, WERE MISSING & THE OTHER 2 WERE SHEARED OFF. AN EXAM OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR RETAINING PINS REVEALED THAT 2 HAD CRACKS IN THE NECK REGION. EARLIER ON THE SAME DAY OF THE INCIDENT, THE ACFT HAD AN UNSAFE GEAR INDICATION. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL HAD INSPECTED, REMOVED, CLEANED, GREASED & REINSTALLED ALL ACTUATING RODS & HAD ADJUSTED THE LEFT GEAR UPLOCK. THE ACFT WAS THEN RELEASED FOR A TEST FLT, ON WHICH, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N200VF (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7405445
- Airframe hours: 5236
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Island Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 1, 1983, 9 hours before
- Departed: ADQ, KODIAK, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ANC, Anchorage, runway 6, 10,897 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,083 total, 40 in this make and model, 3,400 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANC

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19830819067579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830819067579I), Aug 19, 1983: Piper PA31350, Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. Left gear fell off after takeoff. Unable to retract. Runway foamed. 2 wheel landing. Retaining pins sheared off.

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.

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