# NTSB ERA11CA396: Piper PA-30, N325EE, Plant City, FL, July 10, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 10, 2011, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Plant City, FL
- Coordinates: 28, -82.163055 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0000&lon=-82.1631&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81078
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA396
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81078/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81078
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA396

## Probable cause

The failure of a screw in the nose landing gear aligner assembly for undetermined reasons, which prevented the landing gear from fully extending.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he departed and proceeded to a nearby airport where he performed six touch-and-go takeoffs and landings followed by one full-stop landing, all of which were uneventful. Before landing during the return flight, the pilot lowered the landing gear lever and observed that there were no landing gear down-and-locked indications and that the landing gear circuit breaker (CB) was tripped. The pilot reset the CB and attempted to raise then lower the landing gear; however, the landing gear failed to fully extend, and the landing gear CB tripped again. Attempts to extend the landing gear using the emergency extension lever in accordance with the Pilot’s Operating Handbook, using G-loading, and following guidance from maintenance personnel were unsuccessful. The pilot performed a fly-by and was informed that the landing gear appeared to be partially extended. The pilot turned off the fuel and master and placed the mixture controls to idle-cutoff. At touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed, followed by the left, then the nose. The airplane came to rest on the runway. Postaccident examination of the nose landing gear revealed that a screw was broken off in the first thread of the nose landing gear aligner assembly. The head of the screw and associated bushings were separated and not located. No determination was made for the reason for the fractured screw. The manufacturer’s assessment indicated there have been no service difficulty reports pertaining to the screw.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he departed and proceeded to a nearby airport where he performed 6 touch-and-go landings followed by one full-stop landing; all were uneventful. The flight departed to return and after lowering the landing gear using the normal system, there were no landing gear down and locked indications. Additionally, the landing gear circuit breaker (CB) tripped. He reset the CB, raised then lowered the landing gear; however, the landing gear failed to fully extend and the landing gear CB tripped again. Attempts to extend or retract the landing gear using the emergency extension lever in accordance with the Pilot’s Operating Handbook, and also G-loading were unsuccessful. Guidance from maintenance personnel was also unsuccessful in lowering the landing gear. He performed a fly-by and was informed that the landing gear appeared to be partially extended. The pilot returned for landing and on short final had the passenger get in the back of the airplane as the airplane did not have shoulder harnesses. The cabin entry door was opened slightly, the fuel and master were turned off, and the mixture controls were placed to idle-cutoff.At touchdown, the right gear collapsed, followed by the left, then the nose. The airplane came to rest on the runway right of center line and both evacuated the airplane. Postaccident inspection of the nose landing gear by an FAA inspector revealed a screw part number (P/N) 411 349 was broken off in the first thread of the bellcrank assembly P/N 21708-00. The head of the screw, bushing P/N 14976-15, and bushing P/N 14976-16 were separated and not located. No determination was made as to the reason for the fractured screw. Piper Aircraft personnel reported there have been no service difficult reports pertaining to the screw.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N325EE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N325EE-2018-01-03), registration cancelled 2018-01-03, S/N 30-1537, built 1967 (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: 30-1537
- Airframe hours: 6388
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-320-C1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Louis A. Caporicci
- Registered owner: Louis A. Caporicci
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 2011
- Departed: ZPH, Zephyrhills, FL
- Destination: PCM, Plant City, FL
- Airport: PCM, Plant City Airport, runway 10, 3,948 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 8, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Other flight crew; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 275 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: PCM

## 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 20110710015649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110710015649A), Jul 10, 2011: Piper PA-30, Plant City, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft was unable to lower landing gear after accomplishing 3 touch and go's. Pilots attempted to lower the gear using the POH alternate method with no luck.…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81078. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 832 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358565&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358566&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Excerpts from Parts Catalog (item 4, .PDF, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359688&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Parts%20Catalog-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View Showing the Damage to the Right Wing. (item 5, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359750&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20Showing%20the%20Damage%20to%20the%20Right%20Wing.-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Digital Photograph Provided by FAA. View of the Bellcrank Assembly which is part of the Nose Landing Gear Aligner Assembly. Captions Depicting the Structure, and Bellcrank Assembly Were Provided by FAA. (item 6, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359749&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20FAA.%20View%20of%20the%20Bellcrank%20Assembly%20which%20is%20part%20of%20the%20Nose%20Landing%20Gear%20Aligner%20Assembly.%20Captions%20Depicting%20the%20Structure,%20and%20Bellcrank%20Assembly%20Were%20Provided%20by%20FAA.-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.

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