# NTSB ANC97LA033: Cessna 337T, N922EJ, Fairbanks, AK, March 9, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 1997, 19:09 local (23:09 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.810279, -147.719619 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8103&lon=-147.7196&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 May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2970 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2970/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA033 ## Probable cause a leaking landing gear actuator seal, which resulted in an inability of the landing gear to lock in the down position. Failure of the emergency gear extension handle was a related factor. ## Analysis The pilot departed on a local flight at night, but discovered the landing gear handle did not return to the neutral position within the normal time. The 'gear up' annunciator light did not illuminate. A pass near the airport tower confirmed the nose gear appeared down, the main landing gear doors were open, and the gear appeared not to be positioned normally. The pilot attempted to use the emergency hydraulic gear pump, but the pump handle broke off as he was attempting to activate the pump. The pilot contacted his maintenance provider, who recommended several options and methods to get the main gear to lock down. These were unsuccessful, and the pilot elected to land on a snow covered ski strip. The lower portion of the right vertical stabilizer and right rudder received damage when the airplane touched down in a nose high attitude. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a leaking seal in a gear actuator. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 1997, about 1909 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 337T, N922EJ, received substantial damage when the pilot performed an emergency landing at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Fairbanks about 1700. In the pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, he reported that after departure, the gear handle did not return to the neutral position within the normal time. The "gear up" annunciator light did not illuminate. A pass near the airport tower confirmed the nose gear appeared down, but the main landing gear doors were open and the gear appeared not to be positioned normally. The pilot contacted his maintenance provider who recommended several options and methods in order to get the main gear to lock down. These proved unsuccessful and the pilot elected to land on the snow covered ski strip, runway 19, at Fairbanks. The lower portion of the right vertical stabilizer and right rudder received damage when the airplane touched down in a nose high attitude. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported the pilot could not raise the main landing gear of the airplane. The pilot attempted to use the emergency hydraulic gear pump but broke the pump handle off while attempting to activate the pump. The nose wheel was down and locked but the main gear remained unlatched. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a leaking gear actuator seal. ## 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 - leak (cause) - landing gear,main gear - unlocked (cause) - landing gear,emergency extension assembly - failure (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown ## Aircraft - Registration: [N922EJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N922EJ-2021-12-17), registration cancelled 2021-12-17, S/N 337-0944, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 337T - Registry model: [Cessna T337C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t337c) (registry code 2075714) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 337-0944 - Airframe hours: 1498 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-A 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Phillip Granberry - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 24, 1997, 3 hours before - Departed: FAI - Airport: FAI, Fairbanks International, runway 19, 3,978 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,101 total, 258 in this make and model, 1,059 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 173° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 3 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FAI ## 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 19970309026979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970309026979A), Mar 9, 1997: Cessna T337C, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. (.4) The pilot departed on a local flight at night, but discovered the landing gear handle did not return to the neutral position within the normal time. The… ## Other investigations on N922EJ (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN19FA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA094), Mar 9, 2019: Cessna T337 (N922EJ), Longview, TX, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot's improper decision to continue flight into convective weather conditions, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its maximum maneuvering speed and the subsequent… 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.