# NTSB CHI82FA098: Beech 65-A90, N6069C, Kalamazoo, MI, March 24, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 23, 1982, 19:03 local (Mar 24, 1982, 00:03 UTC)
- Place: Kalamazoo, MI
- Location: 42.2344° N, 85.5516° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KALAMAZOO/BATTLE CREEK INTL (AZO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2344&lon=-85.5516&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 23, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71216
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82FA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71216/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82FA098

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - jammed (cause)
  - gear down and locked - not possible, pilot in command
  - wheels up landing - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PLT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR. THE GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND WITH EITHER THE NORMAL OR EMERGENCY SYSTEMS. THE ACFT LANDED WITH THE GEAR IN THE PARTIALLY EXTENDED POSITION. SUBSEQUENT TO EXAMINATIONOF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR ACTUATOR BY THE MANUFACTURER, THE GEAR BOX FOR THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR WAS DISASSEMBLED. IT WAS STILL PACKED WITH GREASE. WHILE REMOVING THE MASS OF GREASE FROM AROUND THE DRIVE PINION GEAR, A SMALL NUT, FOREIGN TO THE INSIDE OF THE GEAR BOX, WAS FOUND BURIED, AND INVISIBLE, IN THE GREASE THAT WAS PACKED AROUND THE BEVELED GEARS. EXAMINATION OF THE NUT SHOWED INDENTATIONS OF TWO OPPOSITE SIDES. PLACEMENT OF THE NUT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE POINT WHEREBOTH BEVELED GEARS MET WOULD JAM THE ROTATION IN EITHER THE RETRACT OF EXTEND CYCLE. ON 12/23/77 THE GEAR ACTUATORS WEREREPLACED WITH REBUILT PARTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6069C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6069C-2013-07-15), registration cancelled 2013-07-15, S/N LJ-291, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 65-A90
- Registry model: [Beech 65-A90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-a90) (registry code 1152908) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6 SER 578HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6-ser-578hp) (registry code 61501, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ291
- Airframe hours: 6881
- Engines: P & W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Dowling Bag Co.
- Registered owner: Dowling Bag Co.
- Departed: HAMILTON, OH
- Destination: SOUTH BEND, IN
- Airport: AZO, Kalamazoo, runway 23, 3,925 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 11,986 total, 1,916 in this make and model, 11,711 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AZO

## 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 19820323008059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820323008059A), Mar 23, 1982: Beech 65A90, Kalamazoo, MI, Substantial damage. Unable to lower landing gear. Landed gear partially down. A loose nut suspected in grease. Jammed nose bevel gears.

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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