# NTSB CEN11CA103: Piper PA-28RT-201T, N8320H, Spring, TX, November 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 18, 2010, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Spring, TX - Coordinates: 30.061944, -95.55278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0619&lon=-95.5528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77977 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77977/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77977 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA103 ## Probable cause The failure of the right landing gear down-lock mechanism to fully engage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to verify the landing gear extension due to the inoperative alternator. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102817), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: alternator-generator drive sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410/cases.md?model=7102817), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=7102817), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28RT-201T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102817), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after departure the airplane experienced an electrical failure. The pilot elected to return to his departure airport for landing. He performed an emergency landing gear extension; however, with no electrical power remaining, he could not verify that the landing gear was down and locked via the gear position lights. Seconds after the airplane touched down on the runway, the right landing gear collapsed. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane departed the right side of the runway and impacted a runway light, coming to rest in an upright and right-wing-low position adjacent to the runway. The airplane’s right wing spar and right aileron were substantially damaged during the accident. An examination of the right landing gear revealed that the downlock mechanism had not fully engaged, thus resulting in its collapse. The electrical failure was due to an inoperative alternator. ## Factual narrative Shortly after departure the single-engine airplane experienced an electrical failure. The private pilot elected to return to his departure airport for landing. The pilot performed an emergency landing gear extension; however, with no electrical power remaining, he could not verify that it was down and locked via the gear position lights. Seconds after the airplane touched down to the runway, the right landing gear collapsed. Unable to maintain directional control, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and hit a runway light, before coming to rest in an upright and right wing low position alongside the runway. The airplane’s right wing spar and right aileron were substantially damaged during the accident. An examination of the right landing gear revealed that the downlock mechanism had not fully engaged, thus resulting in its collapse. In addition, the electrical failure was due to an inoperative alternator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8320H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8320H), registered now, S/N 28R-8131057, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201T - Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (registry code 7102817) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-8131057 - Airframe hours: 7857 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stick Larry G - Registered owner: Stick Larry G - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 12, 2010 - Departed: DWH, Spring, TX - Destination: DZB, Horseshoe Bay, TX - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks Memorial, runway 35L, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 14, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 361 total, 261 in this make and model, 176 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 102 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg ## 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 20101118055939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101118055939A), Nov 18, 2010: Piper PA-28RT-201T, Spring, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot departed kdwh and experienced complete electrical failure shortly after takeoff. Pilot returned to kdwh and landed without radios with a green light from… ## Other investigations on N8320H (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 ERA20CA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA103), Feb 2, 2020: Piper PA28RT (N8320H), Fort Myers, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fracture of the right main landing gear torque link bolt on landing, which resulted in the landing gear assembly rotating freely, the subsequent loss of directional control, and the landing gear… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77977. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343087&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA)-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343088&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Redacted.PDF 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.