# NTSB CEN17LA091: Beech 95-C55, N303QB, Delta, CO, January 18, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 2017, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Delta, CO - Coordinates: 38.786388, -108.063613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7864&lon=-108.0636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; SLC FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94669 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94669/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94669 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA091 ## Probable cause The failure of the landing gear to extend during landing approach due to the interference between the landing gear motor's sector and worm gears. ## 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 · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-C55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1152708), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Beech 95-C55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1152708), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 95-C55, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1152708), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane experienced a gear-up landing after the private pilot was unable to extend the landing gear. Postaccident examination of the landing gear motor revealed that the sector gear teeth were partially sheared and were bound with the worm gear teeth, resulting in interference. Once the gear was turned past the sheared area, the assembly functioned with no anomalies. Review of maintenance logs revealed that the most recent annual inspection, which included the landing gear system, was completed about 6 months before the accident with no anomalies noted. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2017, at 1630 mountain standard time, a Beech 95-C55, N303QB, experienced a gear-up landing at Blake Field Airport, Delta, Colorado, after the pilot was unable to extend the landing gear using normal and emergency procedures. The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with the runway surface. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from an unknown location. A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, Form 6120.1 was not received from the pilot, who was required to complete and submit the form following email and phone requests by the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge. The pilot was also requested to provide his pilot logbook but that request was not complied with. A post-accident disassembly examination, by a maintenance facility, of the airplane landing gearbox showed that there were three labels attached to the gearbox exterior: a "Beech Aircraft Corporation", part number "95-810017-23 ECH," serial number "94-B-479," a Beechcraft Rebuilt Part," part number "95-810017-23 ECH," serial number "94-B-479," and a "Cruiseair Aviation, Inc." with no part or serial number annotated. The examination revealed that the sector gear was against the stop "so hard" that the bolt for the stop could not be removed until the assembly half screws were removed. The sector gear teeth were partially sheared and were bound with worm gear teeth resulting in interference. Once the gear was turned past the sheared area, the assembly worked "fine." An airplane logbook entry dated November 22, 2014 stated that at a tachometer time of 5,211.40 hours and unknown total time, the landing gear failed to electrically extend and the emergency gear handle was hard to turn for the first two turns. The landing gearbox was sent to "Cruiseair" for "repair/inspection." Gearbox, part number "95-810017-25," serial number "94-13-479," was overhauled and reinstalled. The entry states that there were no defects found when the landing gear was cycled three times, and an emergency landing gear extension was performed. An airplane logbook entry dated July 19, 2016 stated that an airplane total time of 5,239.7 hours, the "landing gear, motor, and actuating linkage" were inspected during an annual inspection. The airplane was placed on jacks and the landing gear was cycled and an emergency landing gear extension was performed with "satisfactory results." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N303QB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N303QB-2018-07-12), registration cancelled 2018-07-12, S/N TE-53, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 95-C55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-C55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-c55) (registry code 1152708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TE-53 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 5239.7 - Engines: Continental IO-520 reciprocating; Continental IO-520 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 19, 2016 - Airport: AJZ, Blake Field Airport, runway 3, 5,598 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: unknown ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: AJZ ## 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 20170118002329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170118002329A), Jan 18, 2017: Beech 95-C55, Delta, CO, Substantial damage. Landing gear did not extend electrically (primary) or via the emergency gear extend handle (secondary). Emergency extend handle was bound and pilot could not… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94669. 1.9 MB in all. - Request to Pilot for NTSB Form 6120 (item 1, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Request%20to%20Pilot%20for%20NTSB%20Form%206120-Master.PDF - Email Request to Pilot for NTSB Form 6120 (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20Request%20to%20Pilot%20for%20NTSB%20Form%206120-Master.PDF - Email of Gearbox Examination Results (item 3, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20of%20Gearbox%20Examination%20Results-Master.PDF - Aircraft Logbook (item 4, .PDF, 954 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 5, .PDF, 5 photos, 558 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461380&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.