# NTSB ANC91LA043: Piper PA-31T, N308SC, Kenai, AK, March 31, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1991, 21:31 local (Mar 31, 1991, 01:31 UTC)
- Place: Kenai, AK
- Coordinates: 60.6609, -150.900665 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6609&lon=-150.9007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 10 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5531
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5531/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA043

## Probable cause

THE FAILED NOSE GEAR SHIMMY DAMPNER, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH ICE AND SNOW COVERED RAMPS WHERE THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATING AND THE LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON THE RUNWAYS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, unknown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,taxiway condition - not maintained (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, takeoff - initial climb
  - landing gear,nose gear - jammed (cause)
- Gear not extended, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - jammed (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED AN UNSAFE NOSE GEAR LIGHT, FOLLOWING THE AFTER TAKEOFF GEAR RETRACTION.  THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOWER THE NOSE GEAR AND LANDED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WITH IT RETRACTED.  INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE NOSE GEAR SHIMMY DAMPNER HAD FAILED AND HAD BECOME JAMMED IN THE WHEEL WELL WHEN RETRACTED.  THE FAILED SHIMMY DAMPNER WAS BLAMED ON THE ROUGH ICE AND SNOW COVERED RAMPS AT THE ORIGIN AND DESTINATION AIRPORTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N308SC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31T-8275008
- Airframe hours: 5508
- Engines: P&W PT-6A-11 500 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: South Central Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: South Central Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 7, 1991, 80 hours before
- Departed: ANC, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ENA, Kenai, runway 1, 7,575 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; foreign, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,760 total, 167 in this make and model, 167 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ENA, 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).

- [Accident 19910330008219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910330008219A), Mar 30, 1991: Piper PA31T3, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. Unable extend nose gear. Landed with it up. Shimmy dampner rod broke jammed gear.

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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