# NTSB ATL83FA282: Piper PA-34-22OT, N8387X, Atlanta, GA, July 17, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 1983, 10:01 local (14:01 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Coordinates: 33.89952, -84.299339 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8995&lon=-84.2993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5937
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83FA282
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5937/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FA282

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - electrical system,electric wiring - incorrect (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - improper (cause)
  - gear retraction - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A TAKEOFF ROLL WHEN THE LEFT MAIN AND NOSE GEAR RETRACTED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FLT SWITCH FOR THE HOBBS METER HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO AUTOMATICALLY RECORD ONLY FLT TIME WHEN THE SWITCH WAS IN THE FLT POSITION. IN THIS POSTION THE HOBBS METER WAS TIED IN TO THE WEIGHT ON THE ACFT WHEELS. THE SWITCH HAD RECENTLY BEEN MODIFIED AND THIS WAS THE FIRST FLT WITH THE SWITCH IN THE FLT POSITION. DURING A TEST AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE GEAR RETRACTED IN THIS POSITION EVEN WITH THE GEAR HANDLE DOWN. NO TEST OF THE GEAR HAD BEEN MADE AFTERTHE MODIFICATION PRIOR TO RELEASE FOR FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8387X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-22OT
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8133092
- Airframe hours: 664
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Atlantic Executive, doing business as Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: William C. Lloyd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 15, 1983, 62 hours before
- Destination: EWN, NEW BERN, NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PDK, Dekalb-Peachtree, runway 20L, 5,001 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 175 in this make and model, 5,700 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PDK, 5 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 19830717038719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830717038719A), Jul 17, 1983: Piper PA34220T, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. During takeoff gear retraction causing aircraft to settle. Mechanic had installed squat switch incorrectly.

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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