# NTSB ERA10LA423: Beech C24R, N792Y, Eastover, NC, August 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 2010, 09:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Eastover, NC - Coordinates: 35.085277, -78.769996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0853&lon=-78.7700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report July 21, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Hawker Beechcraft - NTSB case key (mKey): 76964 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA423 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76964/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76964 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA423 ## Probable cause The uncommanded retraction of the nose gear for undetermined reasons and the pilot's improper decision to continue the takeoff after the propeller began to contact the ground. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Beech C24R, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1151254), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the takeoff roll, the airplane's nose gear began to retract and the propeller contacted the runway about halfway down its length. Instead of immediately reducing power to abort the takeoff, the pilot pulled back on the control yoke and the airplane became airborne. He initially continued the takeoff, and then attempted to land on a road located near the runway; however, the airplane struck trees and impacted the ground, before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and its fuselage. Post accident examination of the wreckage, which included the landing gear retraction system, did not reveal any anomalies which would have accounted for the nose landing gear retraction. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 2010, about 0950 eastern daylight time, a Beech C24R, N792Y, owned and operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff from Eastover Air Ranch Airport, Eastover, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot and a passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight destined to Elizabethtown, North Carolina. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot was attempting to takeoff from runway 22, a 3,000-foot-long, 300-foot-wide, turf runway. According to the pilot, after accelerating to about 60 to 62 mph during the takeoff roll, the airplane's nose gear began to collapse and the propeller contacted the runway. He instinctively pulled back on the control yoke and the airplane became airborne. The pilot raised the gear-handle and lowered the nose in an attempt to gain airspeed. He then realized that the airplane was not going to be able to clear trees located off the end of the runway. He attempted to land on a road located about 60 degrees to the left of the runway; however, the airplane struck trees and impacted the ground, before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and its fuselage. Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed a series of 28 ground scars, consistent with propeller strikes, approximately 1,440 feet beyond the beginning of the runway. The airplane came to rest on a road, about 1,900 feet south-southwest of the propeller strikes. The position of the wreckage precluded detailed examination of the landing gear. The airplane was recovered to a storage facility for further examination. The four-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear airplane, serial number MC-643, was manufactured in 1979. It had been operated for about 15 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on April 1, 2010. According to the Hawker-Beechcraft Sierra 200, B24R, C24R Shop Manual, the retractable tricycle landing gear was controlled by a two-position switch located on the left side of the engine controls. The switch handle must be pulled out of the safety detent before it can be moved to the opposite position. A landing gear safety switch, located in the pitot system was designed to open the landing gear circuit to prevent inadvertent retraction of the gear at speeds below 68 to 72 mph. Further examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector and a representative of Hawker-Beechcraft revealed the airplane's nose landing gear assembly was in the retracted and locked position. The nose gear drag brace, drag link, down lock spring, and torque shaft assemblies were intact. The left and right main landing gear assemblies were retracted but not in the locked position. Subsequent inspection of landing gear retraction system, which included testing the electricalretraction circuit and landing gear safety switch, did not reveal any anomalies. According to FAA records, the pilot purchased the airplane during February 2004. He reported 625 hours of total flight experience, which included 555 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N792Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N792Y-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N MC-643, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C24R - Registry model: [Beech C24R](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c24r) (registry code 1151254) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MC-643 - Airframe hours: 5502 - Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Clarence B Symond - Registered owner: Clarence B Symond - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2010, 15 hours before - Departed: 6NC3, Eastover, NC - Destination: EYF, Elizabethtown, NC - Airport: 6NC3, Eastover Air Ranch, runway 22, 3,000 × 300 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 625 total, 555 in this make and model, 578 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FBG, 9 nm away ## 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 20100815046239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100815046239A), Aug 15, 2010: Beech C24R, Eastover, NC, Destroyed. The aircraft was in the process of taking off when the propeller struck the ground at approximately 1440 feet on the take off roll. The pilot then rotated and… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76964. 10.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 568 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NTSB FAA Interview Memorandum (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347952&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20FAA%20Interview%20Memorandum-Master.PDF - Aircraft Bill of Sale (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347977&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Bill%20of%20Sale-Redacted.PDF - Maintenance Records (excerpts) (item 4, .PDF, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20(excerpts)-Redacted.PDF - Hawker-Beechcraft C24R Shop Manual (excerpt) (item 5, .PDF, 292 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Hawker-Beechcraft%20C24R%20Shop%20Manual%20(excerpt)-Master.PDF - NTSB Party Guidance and Form (item 6, .PDF, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347953&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Party%20Guidance%20and%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Photograph # 1 – Airplane as it came to rest (Provided by FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347962&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20%E2%80%93%20Airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph # 2 – View of airplane at storage facility (Provided by Hawker-Beechcraft (item 8, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347986&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20airplane%20at%20storage%20facility%20(Provided%20by%20Hawker-Beechcraft-Master.PDF 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.