# NTSB CEN21LA065: Piper PA32R, N4187H, Canon City, CO, November 20, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 19, 2020, 18:30 local (Nov 20, 2020, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Canon City, CO - Coordinates: 38.42856, -105.10685 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4286&lon=-105.1068&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102334 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102334/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102334 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA065 ## Probable cause The failure of the alternator drive belt, which resulted in insufficient electrical power to extend the landing gear and a subsequent gear-up landing. . ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Electrical power system: alternator-generator drive sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410/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: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103220), [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. - [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a night instructional flight, the pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor noticed the battery warning light illuminate. The ammeter showed that the battery was not charging and indicated 24 volts. They checked the circuit breakers, the alternator switch, and the master switch; all appeared normal and/or in the ON position. They elected to return to the departure airport. Before landing, the pilot receiving instruction lowered the landing gear handle and advised that the landing gear was down; all the lights flickered, and the instrument panel went dark. During landing, the flight instructor noticed that the propeller had stopped and heard the sound of grinding, then realized that the landing gear was retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the alternator drive belt had failed and was found loose in the engine compartment. ## Factual narrative On November 19, 2020, about 1820 mountain standard time, a Piper PA32R airplane, N4187H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Canon City, Colorado. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot receiving instruction, he asked the flight instructor to conduct night takeoffs and landings so that he could meet night currency requirements. A before-takeoff engine run-up revealed no anomalies. Shortly after takeoff, the battery warning light illuminated. They checked the circuit breakers, the alternator switch, and the master switch; all appeared normal and/or in the “ON” position. The voltage continued to decrease, and they agreed to return to the airport. While on final approach for landing, the instructor asked the pilot to lower the landing gear. The pilot advised the landing gear was down; then all the light flickered, and the instrument panel went dark. When the airplane touched down on the runway, the instructor stated that he noticed the propeller had stopped and heard a grinding sound. He immediately realized they had landed gear-up. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed that the alternator drive belt had failed, and it was found lying in the engine compartment. The alternator drive belt was inspected and replaced on July 12, 2019, and most recently inspected during the annual inspection on May 6, 2020. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4187H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4187H), registered now, S/N 3257196, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32R (301T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3257196 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 2032.4 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2020 - Airport: 1V6, Fremont County Airport, runway 29, 5,381 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 37; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,793 total, 0 in this make and model, 1,711 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review October 15, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 640 total, 134 in this make and model, 516.7 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KFCS, 22.6 nm away ## 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 20201119015989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201119015989A), Nov 19, 2020: Piper PA-32R-301T, Penrose, CO, Substantial damage. Alternator belt broke during cruise flight so pilot returned to airport on battery power. Approximately 1.5 miles from airport keyed mike to brighten runway… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102334. 13.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1, flight instructor (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13426829&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Ben%27s%202%20completed%206120%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1, pilot receiving instruction (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13426420&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Presley%20completed%206120%20form%20for%20docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13417167&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Exerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident report pictures (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13423835&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20report%20photos-Rel.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.