# NTSB CEN13LA488: Griffith E/Boyd W E Lancair 360, N15EG, Nucla, CO, August 12, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 2013, 07:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Nucla, CO - Coordinates: 38.238887, -108.563331 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2389&lon=-108.5633&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87778 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA488 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87778/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87778 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA488 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the airplane’s landing gear before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Griffith E/Boyd W E LANCAIR 360, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=05604L1), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Griffith E/Boyd W E LANCAIR 360, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=05604L1), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Griffith E/Boyd W E LANCAIR 360, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=05604L1), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Griffith E/Boyd W E LANCAIR 360, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05604L1), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Griffith E/Boyd W E LANCAIR 360, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05604L1), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, shortly after departure for a cross-country flight, he noticed that the airplane's left main landing gear had not retracted. He cycled the landing gear two or three times, but he believed the left main landing gear remained down. After the last landing gear cycling, he reported that he saw three green lights, indicating that all three landing gear were in the down position, so he decided to land. Just after touchdown, the airplane slid to a stop. Although the pilot reported that the landing gear were extended and subsequently collapsed upon landing, examinations indicated that the gear were fully retracted upon touch down. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2013, about 0700 mountain daylight time, a kit-built Lancair 360 airplane, N15EG, experienced a gear-up landing at the Hopkins Field Airport (KAIB) near Nucla, Colorado. The private rated pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from KAIB prior to the accident. According to the pilot, after departure, he raised the airplane's landing gear and noticed that the left main gear had not retracted. He cycled the gear 2 or 3 times, but the left gear still appeared down. After the last cycling of the gear, he saw three green lights, indicating that all three landing gear were down and locked, so he decided to land. Just after touchdown and without warning, all three landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop off the right side of the runway. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, examined the airplane and reported that the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The inspector added that based on the marks on the gear doors, it appeared the landing gear were in the retracted position during the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15EG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15EG), registered now, S/N 727-320-570FB, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRIFFITH E/BOYD W E LANCAIR 360 - Registry model: [Griffith E/Boyd W E LANCAIR 360](https://openairdocs.org/model/griffith-e-boyd-w-e-lancair-360) (registry code 05604L1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 727-320-570FB - Airframe hours: 946 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Spina Leonard A - Registered owner: Spina Leonard A - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 2, 2012 - Departed: KAIB, Nucla, CO - Destination: KGJT, Grand Junction, CO - Airport: KAIB, Hopkins Field AIrport, runway 5, 4,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2011; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,825 total, 705 in this make and model, 1,698 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KAIB ## 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 20130812014399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130812014399A), Aug 12, 2013: Griffith E/Boyd W E LANCAIR 360, Nucla, CO, Substantial damage. The pilot stated: after takeoff, retracted gear and the left main gear lamp remained on. Cycled gear, and on the second or third extension all three remained… ## Other investigations on N15EG (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 DEN01LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA121), Jul 6, 2001: Griffith-Boyd Lancair 360 (N15EG), La Junta, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: a wheels-up landing due to an uncommanded gear retraction resulting from a short circuit of the landing gear electrical wiring. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87778. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane's main landing gear door (non-NTSB photo) (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%27s%20main%20landing%20gear%20door%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20(non-NTSB%20photo)-Master.PDF - Memo (item 4, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-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.