# NTSB DEN01LA005: Piper PA-31-350, N159SW, Grand Junction, CO, September 27, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 2000, 09:59 local (15:59 UTC) - Place: Grand Junction, CO - Coordinates: 39.110919, -108.529823 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1109&lon=-108.5298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50538 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50538/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA005 ## Probable cause Total failure of the right forward inboard landing gear door hinge pin for undetermined reasons. ## Analysis The on-demand cargo flight had been uneventful until the pilot made his landing approach. When he lowered the landing gear, the right main landing gear failed to extend and lock. A low pass was made and tower personnel confirmed that the landing gear was not extended. The pilot followed emergency procedures in an attempt to extend the landing gear, but to no avail. He made an intentional gear up landing. Postaccident examination disclosed that the right forward inboard landing gear door hinge pin (p/n 46652-2) had broken, preventing the landing gear from extending. ## Factual narrative On September 27, 2000, at 0959 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N159SW, operated by Western Aviators Inc., was substantially damaged during a gear up landing at Walker Field, Grand Junction, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the cargo flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 135. The flight originated at Rifle, Colorado, at approximately 0905. According to the pilot's accident report, the cargo flight originated from Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, and the flight to Rifle was uneventful. As he made his landing approach to Walker Field in Grand Junction, the right main landing gear failed to extend and lock. A low pass was made and tower personnel confirmed that the landing gear was not extended. The pilot followed emergency procedures in an attempt to extend the landing gear, but to no avail. He made an intentional gear up landing on runway 04 as emergency equipment stood by. Postaccident examination disclosed that the right forward inboard landing gear door hinge pin (p/n 46652-2) had broken, preventing the landing gear from extending. Although the pilot reported only minor damage to the airplane, insurance repair estimates indicate substantial damage had been incurred since several bulkheads and formers had to be replaced. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - door,landing gear - failure,total (cause) - gear extension - not possible, pilot in command - Wheels up landing, landing - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command ## Aircraft - Registration: [N159SW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N159SW-2020-03-20), registration cancelled 2020-03-20, S/N 31-7405229, built 1974 (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: 31-7405229 - Airframe hours: 22422 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Western Aviators, Inc. - Registered owner: Western Aviators Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2000, 48 hours before - Departed: RIL, RIFLE, CO - Destination: GJT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: GJT, Walker Field, runway 4, 5,502 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 16,488 total, 7,850 in this make and model, 16,450 as pilot in command, 97 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GJT ## 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 20000927037449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000927037449A), Sep 27, 2000: Piper PA31350, Grand Junction, CO, No damage. (-23)[privacy data omitted] on 09/27/2000 western aviation inc. flight 48, enroute from rifle, CO. To Grand Junction, CO. Was unable to lower the right main… 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.