# NTSB DEN07LA160: Piper PA-30, N22HW, Lawrence, KS, August 31, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2007, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Lawrence, KS - Coordinates: 39.011112, -95.216392 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0111&lon=-95.2164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 77-13-21](https://openairdocs.org/ad/77-13-21) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 66727 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN07LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66727/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07LA160 ## Probable cause Total failure of the landing gear retraction/extension assembly. Contributing factors in this accident were worn parts in the landing gear retraction/extension assembly, and mechanical binding of the extension assembly. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,total (cause) - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - worn (contributing factor) - information insufficient, manufacturer - landing gear,emergency extension assembly - binding(mechanical) (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot said he had made approximately 5 touch-and go landings at one airport before flying home. When he lowered the landing gear in preparation for landing, he noticed in the engine nacelle mirror that the landing gear was approximately one-third extended. The pilot departed the airport area to troubleshoot the problem. During his initial attempt at lowering the landing gear manually, he noticed that the main landing gear circuit breaker had tripped. After several attempts to extend the landing gear manually, it extended about two-thirds of the way. The pilot then "pushed the gear down entirely" and a GEAR SAFE annunciation was illuminated. He confirmed gear extension by seeing it in the engine nacelle mirror. The pilot landed the airplane but during the landing rollout, the right main landing gear collapsed. Post-accident examination revealed the right wing was scraped, and the aileron and flap were damaged and had to be replaced. In addition, the right main gear pushrod was bent and had pushed against and bent the support web in the wheel well. Further examination of the landing gear revealed many parts worn and beyond their service life. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2007, approximately 1500 central daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N22HW, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing rollout at the Lawrence, Kansas, Municipal Airport (LWC). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The cross-country flight originated at Topeka, Kansas, and was en route to Lawrence. The pilot said he had made approximately 5 touch-and go landings within an hour at Topeka, Kansas. He then flew to Lawrence. When he lowered the landing gear in preparation for landing, he noticed in the engine nacelle mirror that the landing gear was approximately one-third extended. The pilot departed the airport area to troubleshoot the problem. During his initial attempt at lowering the landing gear manually, he noticed that the main landing gear circuit breaker had tripped. After several attempts to extend the landing gear manually, it extended about two-thirds of the way. The pilot then "pushed the gear down entirely" and a GEAR SAFE annunciation was illuminated. He confirmed gear extension by seeing it in the engine nacelle mirror. The pilot landed the airplane but during the landing rollout, the right main landing gear collapsed. Post-accident examination revealed the right wing was scraped and the aileron and flap were damaged and had to be replaced. In addition, the right main gear pushrod was bent and had pushed against and bent the support web in the wheel well. FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) 77-13-21 part (a) requires that the landing gear system be inspected every 1,000 hours and components exceeding specified wear limits be replaced. According to maintenance records, prior compliance with AD 77-13-21 part (a) was accomplished at an aircraft total time of 4,231 hours. The total time on the aircraft at the time of the accident was 5,124 hours. During a post-accident inspection, the following parts of the main landing gear system were found to be in need of replacement due to wear: AN26-25 (bolt), 14843-16 (bushings), 14843-30 (bushings), 20737-8 (bushings), AN26-21 (bolt), 14843-60 (bushings), and 25046 (links). Piper Service Letter 782B, dated December 1, 1977, describes the reason for the inspection of the main landing gear system and addresses reports of the landing gear failing to remain down and locked during landing roll-out. The failures occurred after a normal landing gear extension failure, and extension of the landing gear by the manual system. The service letter stated (in part): "The down lock mechanism did not remain engaged due to system wear, apparently as a result of inadequate system maintenance and inspection. In some cases, chronic landing gear circuit breaker tripping preceded actual failure (collapse)." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22HW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22HW-2019-10-05), registration cancelled 2019-10-05, S/N 30-791, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-30 - 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: 30-791 - Airframe hours: 5119 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Guglielmino - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007, 11 hours before - Departed: TOP, Topeka, KS - Destination: LWC, Lawrence, KS - Airport: LWC, Lawrence Municipal, runway 15, 5,700 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,535 total, 109 in this make and model, 1,435 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: LWC ## 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 20070831023759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070831023759A), Aug 31, 2007: Piper PA30, Lawrence, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) An ASI from the wichita FSDO stopped at hetrick air services in Lawrence, KS on 09/07/2007 to look at a CE182 they were adding to their part 135 air… ## Other investigations on N22HW (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 CEN17FA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA297), Aug 1, 2017: Piper PA30 (N22HW), Topeka, KS, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot and flight instructor to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering in the traffic pattern. 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.