# NTSB ATL83FA189: Piper PA-30, N8450Y, Atlanta, GA, May 17, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 16, 1983, 20:45 local (May 17, 1983, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Coordinates: 33.740367, -84.570159 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7404&lon=-84.5702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5915
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5915/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA189

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, landing
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE EXTENDED THE GEAR, GOT A SAFE GEAR DOWN INDICATION & MADE AN APPROACH WITH THE FLAPS RETRACTED. THE GEAR WARNING WAS NOT HEARD. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER THE ACFT ROLLED ABOUT 1500 FT AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AND WITH ALL 3 GEAR ON THE SURFACE, THE RIGHT WING WAS SEEN & FELT TO DROP UNTIL THE RIGHT PROPELLER CONTACTED THE RWY. A MECHANIC (FBO EMPLOYEE) OBSERVED THE ACFT LAND & NOTED THE APPROACH WAS STABLE, THE LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN & THE FLAPS WERE UP. HOWEVER, HE STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHING DOWN, THE ACFT STARTED TO ROLL OUT, THEN 'HOPPED A LITTLE, LIKE HE PULLED BACK.' THE MECHANIC SAID THE 'DOORS CLOSED, LOOKED LIKE GEAR WENT UP & LOCKED, WENT DOWN & SLID ON ITS BELLY.' AN FAA INSPECTOR FOUND THE GEAR HANDLE DOWN, THE FLAPS UP & OBSERVED NO CIRCUIT BREAKERS WERE POPPED. DAMAGE WAS FOUND IN THE LANDING GEAR EXTENSION/RETRACTION SYS, BUT NO PREIMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8450Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8450Y-1994-05-03), registration cancelled 1994-05-03, S/N 301609 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-1609
- Airframe hours: 6426
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Tomahawk Airways, Inc.
- Registered owner: William G. Walton, DBA
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 30, 1983, 33 hours before
- Departed: ABY, ALBANY, GA
- Airport: FTY, Fulton Co., runway 32, 4,158 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; 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: 4,500 total, 100 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTY

## 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 19830516023019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830516023019A), May 16, 1983: Piper PA30, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Landing gear collapsed on the landing roll. No gear defects noted. Unable to substantiate gear retraction by pilot.

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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