# NTSB CHI07LA002: Piper PA-23-250, N71TA, Marshall, MN, October 2, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2006, 16:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Marshall, MN - Coordinates: 44.450553, -95.824996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4506&lon=-95.8250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64812/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=64812 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA002 ## Probable cause The failure of the nose gear to properly extend for undetermined reasons, which resulted in damage to the forward fuselage during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - landing gear,nose gear - failure (cause) - landing gear,emergency extension assembly - failure (cause) - Wheels up landing, emergency landing - fuselage - bent - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged during landing when the nose gear failed to properly extend. The pilot reported that during touch-and-goes at MDS the nose gear would not extend prior to landing. The pilot diverted to MML and conducted a fly-by where ground personnel reported that the nose gear tire appeared to be cocked inside the gear well. The pilot reported that several attempts to lower the nose gear were unsuccessful. The pilot landed in the grass adjacent to the runway with the main gear extended and the nose gear retracted. Post accident investigation could not duplicate the problem. Operational checks of the landing gear retraction and extension after the accident were normal. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2006, about 1605 central daylight time, a Piper PA-23-250, N71TA, piloted by a flight instructor and dual student, was substantially damaged during landing on runway 12 (5,010 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Southwest Minnesota Regional Airport (MML), Marshall, Minnesota. The nose gear failed to extend properly prior to landing and attempts to use the emergency gear extension system were not successful. The instructional flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight instructor and dual student were not injured. The flight departed Madison Municipal Airport (MDS), Madison, South Dakota, about 1430. The flight instructor reported to the Federal Aviation Administration that he was on an instructional flight with the owner of the airplane who was not rated to fly the aircraft. The instructor and the student were doing touch-and-goes at MDS. On the fourth landing, the retractable nose gear would not extend. The instructor wanted ground personnel to get a visual of the gear so he diverted to MML to conduct a fly-by. Ground personnel reported that the nose gear doors were fully open; however, the gear remained in the well and the nose gear tire appeared to be cocked. Several attempts to lower the gear using emergency extension procedures failed. The instructor reported using the CO2 bottle as a last resort, which also failed to lower the gear. He subsequently decided to land the airplane in the grass adjacent to runway 12 at MML with the main gear extended and the nose gear retracted. The forward fuselage was subsequently damaged during the emergency landing. Post accident investigation conducted by the FAA revealed that when the nose gear assembly was turned slightly left the axle bolt area would contact the door structure. There were visible nose wheel marks on the right gear door. Examination also revealed that the gear system worked satisfactorily using normal operations as well as the emergency hand pump. Maintenance records indicated that, five days prior to the accident, during the 100-hour inspection, the nose gear was removed, disassembled and reinstalled. The records also stated that the upper nose gear trunnion was repaired at that time. The records indicated that the gear was cycled five times following the repair. Maintenance personnel reported that wheel marks were observed on the right nose gear door at the time of the 100-hour inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71TA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71TA-2017-07-20), registration cancelled 2017-07-20, S/N 27-7654068, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-23-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (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: 27-7654068 - Airframe hours: 5855 - Engines: Lycoming TI0-540 SER 250 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TI0-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brian D. Woldt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2006 - Departed: MDS, Madison, SD - Destination: MML, Marshall, MN - Airport: MML, Southwest Minnesota Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 31; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 6,400 total, 73 in this make and model, 5,900 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: MML ## 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 20061002026989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061002026989A), Oct 2, 2006: Piper PA23250, Marshall, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot in command [privacy data omitted] was providing instruction to new aircraft owner, ^priva^. [privacy data omitted] Was not rated in aircraft.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 12, 2007, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=64812. 822 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 654 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40284360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40284361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF - Aircraft Maintenance Record (item 3, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40284368&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Maintenance%20Record-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.