- Date
- February 2, 2009, 18:50 local (Feb 3, 2009, 00:50 UTC)
- Place
- Mineral Wells, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5451PPiper PA-24-250
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report May 12, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090202000939A
- Case key
- 73364
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the airframe and power plant mechanic to ensure proper lubrication of wire cables in the landing gear system during the annual inspection which precluded safe operation of the landing gear system.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While departing the airport, the airplane's landing gear system failed to fully retract when actuated by the private pilot. Several attempts were made by the pilot to fully lower the landing gear, including the use of the "emergency landing gear system." The pilot elected to return to the airport and land in the grass parallel to the runway. During the landing the airplane's firewall was damaged. An inspection conducted on the airplane revealed that the wire cables which operate the landing gear were insufficiently lubricated during the previous annual inspection which was accomplished 18 days prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
On initial climb the airplane's landing gear failed to fully retract. Several attempts made by the pilot to lower the landing gear, including the use of the emergency landing gear system, were unsuccessful. The pilot returned to the airport and land in the grass parallel to the runway. Without properly configured gear, the airplane's firewall was damaged during the landing. Responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors discovered the wire cables which operate the landing gear were insufficiently lubricated during the previous annual inspection which was accomplished 18 days prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5451P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-506
- Airframe hours
- 4,803
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 15, 2009
- Departed
- MWL · Mineral Wells, TX
- Destination
- MWL · Mineral Wells, TX
- Airport
- MWL · Mineral Wells Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 18, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,300 total · 700 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.22 inHg
- Observed at
- MWL
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5451P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.