# NTSB CHI00LA029: Piper PA-31-350, N4UE, Romulus, MI, November 15, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 15, 1999, 12:13 local (17:13 UTC)
- Place: Romulus, MI
- Coordinates: 42.230594, -83.390686 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2306&lon=-83.3907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47809
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47809/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA029

## Probable cause

the inadvertent wheels-up landing by the pilot.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Wheels up landing, landing
  - wheels up landing - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

According to the pilot's written statement, on short final to runway 03R he extended full flaps and retarded the engines at which time the gear warning horn sounded.  The pilot reported, '...heard gear warning horn but before action could be taken, props [propellers] struck runway.  Aircraft slid to a stop on runway.  Shut down & secured aircraft.'

## Factual narrative

On November 15, 1999, at 1213 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-31-350, N4UE, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a wheels-up landing on runway 03R (10,000 feet by 150 feet, dry/concrete) at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit, Michigan.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The positioning flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was on an instrument flight plan.  The pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries.  The flight departed Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, Michigan, at 1100.

According to the pilot's written statement, on short final to runway 03R he extended full flaps and retarded the engines at which time the gear warning horn sounded.  The pilot reported, "...heard gear warning horn but before action could be taken, props [propellers] struck runway.  Aircraft slid to a stop on runway.  Shut down & secured aircraft."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4UE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4UE-2015-06-09), registration cancelled 2015-06-09, S/N 31-8152061, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (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: 8152061
- Airframe hours: 6331
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Airnet Systems Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 12, 1999, 52 hours before
- Departed: TVC, TRAVERSE CITY, MI
- Destination: DTW
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DTW, Detroit Metropolitan Arpt, runway 3R, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 330 total, 41 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 24,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DTW

## 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 19991115045719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991115045719A), Nov 15, 1999: Piper PA31350, Detroit, MI, No damage. (-23)Pilot had not extend the landing gear prior to landing.

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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