# NTSB CEN11LA418: Piper PA-28R-201, N4106Q, Rantoul, IL, June 25, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 25, 2011, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Rantoul, IL - Coordinates: 40.293609, -88.142501 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2936&lon=-88.1425&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 23, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80889 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA418 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80889/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80889 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA418 ## Probable cause The pilot did not use the emergency landing gear extension system, which resulted in a wheels-up landing. Contributing to the accident was the inoperative landing gear power pack motor. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023200/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the landing gear did not fully retract after takeoff. He elected to return to the departure airport for a wheels-up landing after several unsuccessful attempts to retract the landing gear. The pilot did not use the emergency extension system after noticing that the green landing gear position lights were not illuminated. A postaccident examination revealed that the main landing gear were extended about 1-foot below their respective wheel wells. The nose landing gear was fully retracted into its respective wheel well and its gear doors were closed. Further examination revealed that the electrical motor for the landing gear power pack did not function due to excessive brush wear. The landing gear extended properly using the emergency extension system during a postaccident test. ## Factual narrative On June 25, 2011, at 1100 central daylight time, a Piper model PA-28R-201 airplane, N4106Q, was substantially damaged during a wheels-up landing on runway 27 at Rantoul National Aviation Center Airport (KTIP), Rantoul, Illinois. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The personal flight had departed from KTIP at 1030. The pilot reported that the landing gear did not fully retract after takeoff. He elected to return to the departure airport after several unsuccessful attempts to retract the landing gear. The pilot did not use the emergency extension system after noticing that the green landing gear position lights were not illuminated. The airplane skidded on the lower fuselage for approximately 100 yards before the left wing collided with a runway light. The left wing and lower fuselage were substantially damaged during the wheels-up landing. A postaccident inspection revealed that the main landing gear were extended approximately 1-foot below their respective wheel wells. The nose landing gear was fully retracted into its respective wheel well and its gear doors were closed. The airplane was placed onto jack stands for an operational test of the landing gear extension/retraction system. The landing gear did not extend when the landing gear selector handle was placed in the down position with electrical power turned on. Further examination determined that the electric motor for the landing gear power pack was not operational. A teardown inspection of the electric motor revealed that the brushes were worn past serviceable limits. No anomalies were noted during a postaccident operational test of the emergency landing gear extension system. All three landing gear fully extended when hydraulic pressure was released using the emergency extension lever. The corresponding green position lights illuminated after the landing gear was extended. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4106Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4106Q), registered now, S/N 28R-7737061 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7737061 - Airframe hours: 4768 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2010 - Departed: KTIP, Rantoul, IL - Destination: KTIP, Rantoul, IL - Airport: KTIP, Rantoul National Aviation Ctr., runway 27, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 4, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 543 total, 543 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KCMI, 17 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 20110625013009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110625013009A), Jun 25, 2011: Piper PA-28R-201, Rantoul, IL, Substantial damage. On 06/25/2011 at the Rantoul, IL airport (tip) a Piper PA-28R-201 landed gear up. The pilot[privacy data omitted] holder of a private pilot certificate #… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80889. 664 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 488 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359793&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359794&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359795&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.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.