# NTSB CHI90GA273: Piper PA-3O, N752CF, Cape Girardeau, MO, September 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1990, 10:46 local (15:46 UTC)
- Place: Cape Girardeau, MO
- Coordinates: 38.87952, -90.099845 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8795&lon=-90.0998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14559
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90GA273
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14559/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90GA273

## Probable cause

EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE LANDING GEAR EXTENSION LINKAGE. A FACTOR IN THE INCIDENT WAS UNRELIABILITY OF THE GEAR INDICATING SYSTEM.

## Sequence of events

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

- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - loose (cause)
  - landing gear,gear indicating system - unreliable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATES HE OBTAINED NO GEAR MOVEMENT ON SELECTING GEAR DOWN. WHEN THE SWITCH WAS RECYCLED, THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED BUT THE GEAR DOWN INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE. TOWER REPORTED THE GEAR APPEARED TO BE DOWN. THE PILOT THEN USED MANUAL EXTENSION TO LOWER THE GEAR AND REPORTS HE OBTAINED A DOWN LOCKED LIGHT. THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. EXAMINATION REVEALED EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR LINKAGE. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR EXTENDED BUT WOULD NOT ACHIEVE OVER-CENTER IN THE DOWN POSITION USING MANUAL EXTENSION. A WIRE TO THE LEFT GEAR DOWN SWITCH WAS BROKEN WITHIN ITS INSULATION; IN AN AREA WHERE THE WIRE FLEXES AS THE GEAR CYCLES. LATER PRODUCTION AIRPLANES INCLUDE A LANDING GEAR DOWN SAFETY DEVICE TO MECHANICALLY LOCK THE GEAR DOWN WHEN EXTENDED MANUALLY. THE DEVICE MAY BE FITTED TO EARLIER AIRPLANES, AND ITS AVAILABILITY WAS ANNOUNCED IN 1973 IN A SERVICE SPARES LETTER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N752CF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N752CF), registered now, S/N 30-592, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-3O
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-592
- Airframe hours: 4246
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wendall & Jean Durr
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1989, 136 hours before
- Departed: ALN, ALTON, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GGI, Cape Girardeau Muni, runway 2, 3,996 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,600 total, 100 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CGI

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19900923050579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900923050579I), Sep 23, 1990: Piper PA30, Cape Girardeau, MO, Minor damage. No gear safe light. Lowered gear manually. Gear collapsed on rollout. Multiple discrepancies in system.

## Other investigations on N752CF (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA03CA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03CA037), Dec 26, 2002: Piper PA-30 (N752CF), Tallahassee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper start procedure which resulted in an unintentional engine start, and unoccupied aircraft collision with hangar structure.

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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