# NTSB CEN17LA150: Piper PA 28R-201, N36458, Pontiac, MI, April 9, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 9, 2017, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Pontiac, MI
- Coordinates: 42.665554, -83.420555 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6656&lon=-83.4206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 5, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: East Michigan FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94983
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94983/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94983
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA150

## Probable cause

Maintenance personnel’s improper securing of an unused instrument lamp socket during recent maintenance, which resulted in an electrical short of the landing gear controls and stopped the landing gear while it was transitioning to the down position and led to the landing gear collapse.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: land gear sys wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023297): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023297/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023297/cases.md)
- [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); 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: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102816), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While conducting touch-and-go landings and as the private pilot landed the airplane for the third time, the right main landing gear and nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing was partially separated from the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that maintenance personnel had improperly secured an unused instrument lamp socket during recent maintenance, which allowed an electrical short of the landing gear controls. The landing gear control circuit breaker tripped, which stopped the landing gear from fully extending while it was transitioning to the down position. It also rendered the landing gear indicators and warnings inoperative so the pilot was unaware the landing gear was not fully extended.

## Factual narrative

On April 9, 2017, about 1015 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201 airplane, N36458, experienced a landing gear collapse at the Oakland County International Airport (KPTK), Pontiac, Michigan. The pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to IXI LLC 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, which operated without a flight plan.While conducting touch and go landings, the pilot landed the airplane for the third time when the right main landing gear and nose landing gear collapsed. The right wing was partially separated from the airplane resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector found an unused instrument lamp socket was improperly secured during recent maintenance allowing it to short the landing gear controls. The landing gear control circuit breaker was tripped, stopping the landing gear from transitioning to the down position and the landing gear indicators and warnings became inoperative. No other anomalies were found with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36458](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36458-2019-01-15), registration cancelled 2019-01-15, S/N 28R-7837279, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28R-201 (201)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28R-7837279
- Year built: 1978
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 SER reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PTK, Pontiac, MI
- Destination: PTK, Pontiac, MI
- Airport: PTK, Oakland County Intl, runway 27R, 5,676 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 23,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: KPTK

## 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 20170409006229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170409006229A), Apr 9, 2017: Piper PA-28R-201, Pontiac, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot was practicing touch and go procedures, on the third attempted landing right main and nose landing gear collasped. Investigation found landing gear…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94983. 146 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460784&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460785&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-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.

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