# NTSB ANC86IA010: Piper Navajo PA-31-350, N492SC, Kenai, AK, December 5, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 5, 1985, 12:58 local (16:58 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 60.660728, -150.900985 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6607&lon=-150.9010&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4611
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC86IA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4611/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86IA010

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - failure,partial (cause)
  - landing gear - inadequate, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (cause)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,manufacturer, faa(organization) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT IN COMMAND COULD NOT RAISE THE LANDING GEAR PROPERLY AFTER DEPARTURE. HE DIVERTED TO KENAI, ALASKA, WHEREUPON EXTENDING THE GEAR HE OBTAINED THREE SAFE GEAR INDICATIONS. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE AND UPON ROLL OUT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. METALURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR LANDING GEARLINK ASSEMBLY, PN 40279, REVEALED FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE INSIDE RADIUS OF THE FILLET IN THE CLEVIS END.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N492SC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER NAVAJO PA-31-350 (NAVAJO PA-)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7552108
- Airframe hours: 10396
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: South Central Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 29, 1985
- Departed: HOM, HOMER, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ENA, Kenai, runway 1, 7,600 × 150 ft, snow

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,678 total, 796 in this make and model, 316 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F
- Observed at: ENA

## 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 19851205065929I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851205065929I), Dec 5, 1985: Piper PA31350, Kenai, AK, Minor damage. Right main would not retract. Continued gear down. Cycled gear but right main collapsed. Drag link had failed.

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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