# NTSB ERA12CA028: Piper PA-28R-201T, N9268C, Culpeper, VA, October 6, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 6, 2011, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Culpeper, VA - Coordinates: 38.521945, -77.855552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5219&lon=-77.8556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82072 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82072/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82072 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate knowledge of the airplane's emergency gear extension procedures, which resulted in his failure to successfully perform a manual extension of the landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Electrical power system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of procedures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/cases.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot/owner, the airplane sustained a loss of electrical power, and he decided to return to the airport. On the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot moved the landing gear lever to the down position but did not see the three green lights or hear the landing gear extend. He then called a maintenance facility located at the airport and asked them to verify if the landing gear was down while he performed a low pass over the runway. The maintenance personnel indicated that the gear was not down; the pilot attempted an emergency gear extension procedure. After another low pass, the maintenance personnel stated that the gear was extended, and the pilot landed the airplane. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway, impacting a runway light, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the battery had been removed, and, therefore, the reason for an electrical failure could not be determined. Examination and operation of the landing gear revealed no anomalies. The pilot owned the airplane for about 8 years prior to the accident and had accumulated 1,650 hours of flight time in the make and model; however, the pilot could not successfully perform or articulate the emergency gear extension procedure. The pilot was also unable to locate the emergency landing gear extension procedure in the pilot’s operating handbook. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot/owner, the airplane experienced a loss of electrical power and he decided to return to the airport. On the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot moved the landing gear lever to the down position, but did not see the three green lights or hear the landing gear extend. He then called a maintenance facility located at the airport and asked them to verify if the landing gear was down while he performed a low pass over the runway. The maintenance personnel indicated that the gear was not down, and the pilot attempted an emergency gear extension procedure. After another low pass, the maintenance personnel stated that the gear was extended and the pilot landed the airplane. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed, the airplane veered off the runway, and impacted a runway light, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the battery had been removed prior to his arrival, therefore, the reason for the electrical failure could not be determined. Examination and operation of the landing gear revealed no anomalies. The pilot owned the airplane for about 8 years prior to the accident, and had accumulated 1,650 hours of flight time in make and model. When asked by the FAA inspector, the pilot could not successfully perform nor articulate the emergency gear extension procedure. The pilot was then handed the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) and asked to locate the procedure in the handbook. The pilot was unable to locate the emergency landing gear extension procedure in the POH. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9268C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9268C-2012-07-13), registration cancelled 2012-07-13, S/N 28R-7803248, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201T - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7803248 - Airframe hours: 2210 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2011 - Departed: CJR, Culpeper, VA - Destination: CJR, Culpeper, VA - Airport: CJR, Culpeper Regional Airprot, runway 04, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 4, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 3,342 total, 1,650 in this make and model, 3,200 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.42 inHg - Observed at: CJR ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82072. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356290&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - CJR Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357193&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CJR%20Weather%20Observations-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.