# NTSB ATL01LA102: Beech 55, N521U, Jacksonville, FL, August 25, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 2001, 14:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Jacksonville, FL - Coordinates: 30.247222, -81.680557 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2472&lon=-81.6806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Orlando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53243 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53243/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA102 ## Probable cause The failure of the left landing gear extention rod for undetermined reasons that resulted in a landing with the gear retracted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - bent (cause) ## Analysis The pilot completed the landing check and verified that the landing gear cockpit indicators light showed that the landing gear was down and locked position. The pilot continued the approach and the airplane touched down with the left wheel retracted. The subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear extension rod was bent. The landing gear extension rod was replaced, and a successful functional check of the landing gear system was accomplished. According to the flying club assistant chief pilot, this airplane was used for training, and the origin of the extension rod deformation was not determined. Additionally, the pilot had no means of verifying when the main and nose gear assemblies are in the extended and locked positions. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2001, at 1450 eastern daylight time, a Beech 55, N521U, landed with left main landing gear up at the Mayport Airport, in Jacksonville, Florida the training flight was operated by the Navy Flying Club under the provisions of CFR 14 Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The certified flight instructor and his student were not injured. The airplane received substantial structural damage. The flight departed Jacksonville, Florida, at 1405. During the seventh touch and go landing, the left main landing gear failed to extend. According to the pilot, he completed the landing check and verified that the landing gear cockpit indicators light showed a down and locked position. The pilot continued the approach and the airplane touched down with the left wheel retracted. The subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear extension rod was bent. The examination also revealed that the uplock rollers were maintained in accordance with required maintenance procedures and performed without discrepancies during the post-accident functional check. The landing gear extension rod was replaced, and a successful functional check of the landing gear system was accomplished. According to the flying club assistant chief pilot, this airplane was used for training, and the origin of the extension rod deformation was not determined. Since, the landing gear indicator system only shows the position of the landing gear motor, the pilot had no means of verifying when the main and nose gear assemblies were in the extended and locked positions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N521U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N521U-2021-03-06), registration cancelled 2021-03-06, S/N TE-85 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-C55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-c55) (registry code 1152708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TE-85 - Airframe hours: 8109 - Engines: Continental IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jax Navy Flying Club NAS - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NRB, Jacksonville - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KNRB, Mayport Airport, runway 050, 8,004 × 200 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 36; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,358 total, 97 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 5 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: JAX ## 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 20010825029249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010825029249A), Aug 25, 2001: Beech 95C55, Jacksonville, FL, No damage. (-23) During the 7th touch and go the left MLG failed to extend. FAA inspection found the left main landing gear extension rod bent. The FAA inspectors opinion… ## Other investigations on N521U (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 FTW69F0374](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0374), Jan 19, 1969: Beech 95-C55 (N521U), Lubbock, TX, substantial damage 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.