- Date
- November 9, 2012, 20:07 local (Nov 10, 2012, 02:07 UTC)
- Place
- Minneapolis, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N619BAFairchild SA227-AC
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report January 14, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Minneapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20121109024119I
- Case key
- 85616
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
Loose electrical connections to the hydraulic system and anomalies in the hydraulic shuttle valve and power pack, which resulted in an uncommanded gear unlock and collapse of the left main landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s failure to comply with the life limits outlined by the hydraulic power pack’s manufacturer.
Findings · 4
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
All three green landing gear indicator lights were illuminated before the pilot landed the airplane. About 50 to 100 feet beyond the touchdown point, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane exited the left side of runway. A postincident examination of the airplane found two loose electrical connections to the hydraulic system and several anomalies in the hydraulic shuttle valve and the hydraulic power pack. It is likely that the hydraulic issues allowed for a movement in the landing gear shuttle valve, which resulted in an uncommanded gear unlock and subsequent collapse of the left main landing gear. The hydraulic power pack's manufacturer had issued a service letter regarding life limits on the pack; however, the operator was not in compliance with these limits at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On November 9, 2012, about 2007 central standard time, N619BA, a Fairchild Aircraft, Inc., SA227-AC, multi-engine airplane, sustained minor damage when the left main landing gear collapsed during landing at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP), Minneapolis, Minnesota. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Bemidji Aviation Services, Inc. Night visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 scheduled cargo flight. The airplane departed Duluth International Airport (DLH), Duluth, Minnesota, about 1926 destined for MSP.The pilot reported that all three green landing gear indicator lights were illuminated before he performed an otherwise normal landing. About 50 to 100 feet after touching down on the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded off of the left side of runway and came to rest upright in the grass. A postincident examination of the airplane found two loose electrical connections to the hydraulic system. An overhaul teardown of the hydraulic shuttle valve showed the seat out of tolerance, cap safety wire holes damaged and a washer not to the current revisions. The washer also showed corrosion. An examination of the hydraulic power pack revealed a washer not to the current revision. The system operated normally after the electrical wiring was repaired, and the hydraulic power pack and shuttle valve were replaced. The operator reported that they have revised their life limitations on the hydraulic power pack so that it now complies with the instructions in the manufacturer's service letter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N619BA
- Reported as
- Fairchild SA227-AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AC619B
- Built
- 1985
- Engines
- Garrett TPE331-11UA, 1,000 horsepower, turbo propGarrett TPE331-11UA, 1,000 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Bemidji Aviation Services Inc, doing business as Bemidji Aviation Services Inc
- Registered owner
- Bemidji Aviation Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- DLH · Duluth, MN
- Destination
- MSP · Minneapolis, MN
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MSP · Minneapolis St Paul Intl, runway 12R, 10,000 × 200 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Auto-pilot
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
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 5, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 12,500 total · 500 in this make and model · 12,000 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 70° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KMSP
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.