# NTSB CEN19TA333: Lancair Lancair 320, N52WL, Bolivar, MO, September 25, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: September 25, 2019, 13:35 local (18:35 UTC) - Place: Bolivar, MO - Coordinates: 37.596111, -93.348052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5961&lon=-93.3481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100337 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19TA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100337/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100337 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19TA333 ## Probable cause Inadequate maintenance of the airplane, which resulted in a lack of adequate hydraulic fluid, malfunction of the landing gear extension system, and the landing gear collapse on landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Hydraulic power system: reservoir, main](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022916): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hill Taylor K LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022916/cases.md?model=05633WJ), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022916/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Hill Taylor K LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=05633WJ), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Hill Taylor K LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=05633WJ), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Hill Taylor K LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05633WJ), [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: [Hill Taylor K LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05633WJ), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hill Taylor K LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05633WJ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While on approach for landing, the pilot activated the experimental airplane's landing gear extension switch and noticed that the right main landing gear indicator light was not illuminated. He recycled the landing gear, checked the circuit breaker, and performed an emergency landing gear extension; however, the right main landing gear did not extend. During the landing, the right wing contacted the runway and terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed that the hydraulic fluid reservoir contained a minimal amount of fluid. No visual leaks were noted with the hydraulic system. The reservoir tank was located aft of the firewall and was not visible during a pre-flight inspection due to fuselage structure. The airplane's annual condition inspection was expired; the pilot stated that he knew the inspection was out of date and was working on completing the inspection. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 2019, at 1335 central daylight time, a Lancair 320 airplane, N52WL, experience a landing gear system malfunction while on approach to Bolivar Municipal Airport (M17), Bolivar, Missouri. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing during the landing. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan had not been filed. The airplane departed the Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport, Sparta, Wisconsin, at 1115, and was destined for M17. According to the pilot, while on visual approach to M17, he activated the landing gear extension switch and noticed the right main landing gear indication was not illuminated. The pilot recycled the landing gear, checked the landing gear circuit breaker, and performed an emergency landing gear extension; however, the right main landing gear did not extend. The pilot burned fuel for about 1 hour and landed on runway 18. During the landing, the right wing contacted the runway and terrain. The airplane came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed the airplane hydraulic fluid reservoir contained a minimal amount of fluid (see Figure 1). No visual leaks were noted with the hydraulic system. The reservoir tank was located aft of the firewall and was not visible during a pre-flight inspection due to fuselage structure. The most recent condition inspection was completed on January 12, 2017. The pilot stated he knew the inspection was out of date and was working on getting the inspection completed. Figure 1. Hydraulic Fluid Reservoir - Level Below Minimum (FAA) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52WL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52WL), registered now, S/N 325-320-86, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lancair LANCAIR 320 (No Series) - Registry model: [Hill Taylor K LANCAIR 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/hill-taylor-k-lancair-320) (registry code 05633WJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-b1a) (registry code 41907, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 325-320-86 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 100 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 12, 2017 - Departed: CMY, Sparta, WI - Destination: M17, Bolivar, MO - Airport: M17, Bolivar Municipal Airport, runway 18, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review May 1, 2016; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,225 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,110 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20190925016989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190925016989A), Sep 25, 2019: Hill Taylor K LANCAIR 320, Bolivar, MO, Substantial damage. During landing approach, the right landing gear did not fully extend in the down and locked position. Pilot attempted manual extension of the landing gear. On… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100337. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Excerpt of Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20of%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.