# NTSB ERA12LA494: Piper PA-44-180, N740FT, Titusville, FL, August 1, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 2012, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.514722, -80.799163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5147&lon=-80.7992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84542 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA494 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84542/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84542 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA494 ## Probable cause Inadequate maintenance servicing and inspection of the nose landing gear, which resulted in the failure of the nose landing gear to lock and its subsequent collapse during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor was conducting practice instrument landing system approaches during an instructional flight when he observed that the nose landing gear indicator light did not indicate down and locked. He observed that the nose gear was extended and he cycled the landing gear without any changes to the nose gear indicator light. During a subsequent landing attempt, the airplane initially touched down on the main landing gear; however, as the nose landing gear touched down, it began to collapse. The airplane came to rest about 2,500 feet from the approach end of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage around the nose gear. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear eccentric bushing, which engaged the downlock hook, was out of adjustment. In addition, a check of the hydraulic system fluid reservoir dipstick revealed that the fluid level was below the amount that could be observed on the dipstick. After the hydraulic system fluid reservoir was properly serviced and the eccentric bushing adjusted, the landing gear functioned normally. The airplane had been operated for about 10 hours since its most recent 100-hour inspection, which was performed about 12 days earlier. The accident flight was the airplane's first flight after it was released from maintenance, which included a landing gear inspection and operational check. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2012, about 1715 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N740FT, operated by Space Coast Aviation, was substantially damaged when the nose landing gear collapsed during landing at the Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX), Titusville, Florida. The flight instructor, a private pilot, and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed Merritt Island Airport (COI), Merritt Island, Florida. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the flight instructor, the airplane had various landing gear issues during the week prior to the accident, which included a faulty nose gear indicator light the day prior. While practicing instrument landing system approaches at TIX, the nose gear indicator light did not indicate down and locked; however, the flight instructor observed that the nose gear was extended. He cycled the landing gear without any changes to the nose gear indicator light and subsequently attempted to land on runway 36. The airplane initially touched down on the main landing gear; however, as the nose landing gear touched down, it began to collapse. The airplane came to rest about 2,500 feet from the approach end of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage around the nose gear. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the nose landing gear eccentric bushing, which engaged the downlock hook was out-of-adjustment. In addition, a check of the hydraulic system fluid reservoir dipstick revealed that the fluid level was below an amount that could be observed on the dipstick. After the hydraulic system fluid reservoir was properly serviced and the eccentric bushing adjusted, the landing gear functioned normally. According to company maintenance records, the airplane had been operated for about 10 hours since its most recent 100 hour inspection, which was performed on July 20, 2012. In addition, the accident flight was the airplane's first flight after it was released from maintenance which included a landing gear inspection and operational check. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N740FT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N740FT-2023-06-14), registration cancelled 2023-06-14, S/N 44-7995084, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-7995084 - Airframe hours: 9200 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Space Coast Aviation - Registered owner: 30 West LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 20, 2012, 10 hours before - Departed: COI, Merritt Island, FL - Destination: TIX, Titusville, FL - Airport: TIX, Space Coast Regional, runway 36, 7,319 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 40; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 14, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 1,565 total, 618 in this make and model, 1,504 as pilot in command, 159 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: TIX ## 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 20120801015369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120801015369A), Aug 1, 2012: Piper PA-44-180, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. During an interview the flight instructor and pilot in command stated that while executing a practice ILS rw 36 the landing gear was selected down and the nose… ## Other investigations on N740FT (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 CEN21LA418](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA418), Sep 12, 2021: Piper PA-44-180 (N740FT), Magnolia, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84542. 7.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395778&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395784&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Maintenace Record Excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 957 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenace%20Record%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Photograph # 1 – View of airplane as it came to rest (Provided by FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph # 2 – View of damage to the fuselage around the nose landing gear (Provided by FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395771&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20damage%20to%20the%20fuselage%20around%20the%20nose%20landing%20gear%20(Provided%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. --- 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.