# NTSB ANC91IA020: Piper PA-31-350, N4118G, Nome, AK, January 15, 1991

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1991, 19:52 local (23:52 UTC)
- Place: Nome, AK
- Coordinates: 64.709236, -164.619613 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7092&lon=-164.6196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 9, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5493
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91IA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5493/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91IA020

## Probable cause

WAS THE SHEARED FITTING ON THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR SHUTTLE VALVE WHICH CAUSED THE NOSE GEAR TO NOT EXTEND FOR LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - separation (cause)
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - failure,total (cause)
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - sheared (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT COULD NOT GET THE NOSE GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY ON THE MAIN GEAR ONLY. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED A SHEARED FITTING ON THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR SHUTTLE VALVE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4118G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4118G), registered now, S/N 31-8453001, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-8453001
- Airframe hours: 6818
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: James P. Rowe
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 9, 1991, 13 hours before
- Departed: SVA, SAVOONGA, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: OME, Nome, runway 27, 6,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,717 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 11,500 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -20 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OME, 1 nm away

## 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 19910115000689I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910115000689I), Jan 15, 1991: Piper PA31350, Nome, AK, Minor damage. Unable to extend nose gear on approach. Returned to departure point. Actuator shuttle valve assembly was broken.

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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