# NTSB DEN01LA121: Griffith-Boyd Lancair 360, N15EG, La Junta, CO, July 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 2001, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: La Junta, CO - Coordinates: 37.980674, -103.540885 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9807&lon=-103.5409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52660 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52660/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA121 ## Probable cause a wheels-up landing due to an uncommanded gear retraction resulting from a short circuit of the landing gear electrical wiring. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown - gear extension - performed, pilot in command - electrical system,electric wiring - shorted (cause) - gear retraction - not selected (cause) - object - animal(s) ## Analysis When the pilot slowed the airplane and extended the landing gear, he heard the usual loud aerodynamic noise and observed three green lights indicating the landing gear was down and locked. Instead of touching down on its wheels, the airplane landed wheels up. Postaccident inspection revealed all three wheels were in their respective wheel wells. The main landing gear doors were partially open, and there was hydraulic pressure on the right inboard door. The landing gear control was confirmed to be in the DOWN position. The landing gear UP RELAY was hot to the touch. What appeared to be the beginning of a mouse nest was noted in the center console where the gear, flap, starter, and power wires pass. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 2001, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Griffith-Boyd Lancair 360, N15EG, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during a wheels-up landing at La Junta Municipal Airport, La Junta, Colorado. The private pilot-in-command and the commercial flight instructor-passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated approximately 0800. The following is based on the pilot's accident report, written statement, and several telephone conversations. The pilot was flying the airplane. In preparation for landing, he slowed the airplane and extended the landing gear. He heard the usual loud aerodynamic noise and observed three green lights indicating the landing gear was down and locked. However, during the landing, instead of touching down on the wheels, the pilot heard a loud scraping noise and the airplane veered slightly to the right. It traveled 300 feet on the runway and another 300 feet on gravel next to the runway before coming to a halt in a ditch. There was damage to the fuselage skin and bulkeads. The pilot inspected the airplane and found all three wheels were in their respective wheel wells. The main landing gear doors were partially open, and there was hydraulic pressure on the right inboard door. He rechecked and found the landing gear control in the DOWN position. He suspected that when the airplane touched down, the landing gear retracted and he submitted evidence to support his conclusions. He found the UP RELAY to be hot to the touch even though the gear switch was in the down position. He noted what appeared to be the beginning of a mouse nest in the center console where the gear, flap, starter, and power wires pass. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N15EG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15EG), registered now, S/N 727-320-570FB, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Griffith-Boyd Lancair 360 - Registry model: [Griffith E/Boyd W E LANCAIR 360](https://openairdocs.org/model/griffith-e-boyd-w-e-lancair-360) (registry code 05604L1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 727-320-570FB - Airframe hours: 194 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-H186D 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald J. Ryan - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 5, 2000, 12 hours before - Departed: LHX, La Junta, CO - Destination: LHX, La Junta, CO - Airport: LHX, La Junta Municipal, runway 26, 6,848 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 79 in this make and model, 173 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: LHX ## 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 20010706020649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010706020649A), Jul 6, 2001: Amtr LANCAIR360, La Junta, CO, No damage. (-23) NTSB advised FSDO accident investigator on July 8, 2001 that Mr. Donald ryan reported that his aircraft landed at the lhx airport and upon landing the… ## Other investigations on N15EG (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 CEN13LA488](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA488), Aug 12, 2013: Griffith E/Boyd W E Lancair 360 (N15EG), Nucla, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to extend the airplane’s landing gear before landing. 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.