# NTSB DEN03LA014: Piper PA-28RT, N2904C, Grand Junction, CO, November 6, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 6, 2002, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Grand Junction, CO - Coordinates: 39.099571, -108.349418 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0996&lon=-108.3494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Salt Lake City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56055 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56055/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA014 ## Probable cause the collapse of the left main landing gear during landing roll resulting in loss of control/ground loop/swerve and subsequent impact with a sign. Contributing factors include, the airplane's total loss of electrical power due to an alternator failure and the inoperative landing gear indicating system. ## Analysis On the return flight, approximately 35 miles from the destination airport, the airplane's alternator failed and all electrical power was lost. Attempts to restore electrical power were unsuccessful. The pilot used his cell phone to call the airport's tower and was given clearance to land. He followed the airplane's emergency checklist to manually extend the landing gear and landed the airplane. During the landing roll, the airplane's left main landing gear collapsed, the airplane veered off the runway and struck a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing. ## Factual narrative On November 06, 2002, at approximately 1400 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28RT, N2904C, operated by Kempton Air Service of Grand Junction, Colorado, was substantially damaged when its left main landing gear collapsed during landing roll at Walker Field Airport (GJT), Grand Junction, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. This personal cross-country flight was being conducted under Title 14, CFR Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Durango, Colorado, at approximately 1315. According to the pilot, approximately 35 miles southeast of Grand Junction, the airplane's alternator failed and all electrical power was lost. Attempts to restore electrical power were unsuccessful. While over Whitewater, Colorado, the pilot used his cell phone to call GJT Tower and he was given clearance to land. He followed the airplane's emergency checklist to manually lower the landing gear and landed the airplane on runway 29. During the landing roll, the airplane's left main landing gear collapsed, the airplane veered off the runway and struck the A6 taxiway sign. The airplane's left wing was displaced from the fuselage at the forward attachment fitting and the outboard 5 feet of its leading edge was crushed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal - electrical system,alternator - failure,total (contributing factor) - remedial action - performed, pilot in command - electrical system - loss,total (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,gear indicating system - inoperative (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2904C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2904C), registered now, S/N 28R-7931250 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28RT - Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201t) (registry code 7102817) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7931250 - Airframe hours: 5605 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-FBI 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry G. Kempton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 2002, 60 hours before - Departed: DRO, Durango, CO - Destination: GJT, Grand Junction - Airport: GJT, Walker Field, runway 29, 10,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 20, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 395 total, 135 in this make and model, 296 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 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 20021106030479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021106030479A), Nov 6, 2002: Piper PA28R201T, Grand Junction, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Gjt. Upon arrival in gjt area he lowered his landing gear electrically and followed on with manual extension as well. He rocked the aircraft to the left… ## Other investigations on N2904C (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 DEN88LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA079), Feb 21, 1988: Piper PA-28RT-201T (N2904C), Aurora, CO, substantial damage 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.