# NTSB CHI96LA127: Socata TBM-700, N292RG, Eau Claire, WI, March 29, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 1996, 17:33 local (22:33 UTC) - Place: Eau Claire, WI - Coordinates: 44.819122, -91.489585 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8191&lon=-91.4896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10224 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10224/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA127 ## Probable cause fatigue fracture and subsequent failure of the gear door hinge bracket. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - door,landing gear - fatigue (cause) - Wheels up landing, landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that an 'unsafe gear door light' was displayed 'shortly after departing.' He recycled the landing gear. The right main landing gear did not extend. He performed several normal and emergency gear extension attempts with no success. He had several telephone patch conversations with the airplane manufacturer and flight safety. The right main landing gear could not be lowered. He orbited to burn down fuel, declared an emergency, and conducted a gear up landing. Examination of the right main landing gear revealed a fatigue fracture in the right inboard landing gear door forward hinge bracket. The door was wedged in the wheel well. ## Factual narrative On March 29, 1996, at 1733 central standard time, a Socata TBM-700, N292RG, operated by Chemrite Industries, Inc. sustained substantial damage while landing in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with the right main landing gear in the retracted position. The commercial pilot and private pilot rated passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91, business flight originated in Rice Lake, Wisconsin at 1400 with a planned destination of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In his written statement, the pilot reported that an "unsafe gear door light" was displayed "shortly after departing." He recycled the landing gear. The right main landing gear did not extend. He performed several normal and emergency gear extension attempts with no success. He had several telephone patch conversations with the airplane manufacturer and flight safety. The right main landing gear could not be lowered. He orbited to burn down fuel, declared an emergency, and conducted a gear up landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. Examination of the right main landing gear revealed the right inboard landing gear door, forward hinge bracket was fractured. The door was wedged in the wheel well. The fractured bracket was examined by a NTSB metallurgist. In his factual report, he stated "SEM inspections of the crack revealed fatigue progression features emanating from both surfaces of the mounting flange." ## Aircraft - Registration: N292RG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Socata TBM-700 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14 - Airframe hours: 720 - Engines: P&W PT6A-64 700 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Chemrite Industries, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 29, 1996, 3 hours before - Departed: RIE, RICE LAKE, WI - Destination: MWC, MILWAUKEE, WI - Airport: EAU, Chippewa Valley Regional, runway 4, 7,311 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,126 total, 218 in this make and model, 1,065 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 19960329046429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960329046429A), Mar 29, 1996: Socata TBM700, Eau Claire, WI, No damage. (-23) N292RG, TBM-700, departed rice lake, WI. Airport with the pilot and one passenger, on a proposed VFR flight to milwaukee, WI. After takeoff, and the… 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.