# NTSB ERA13LA049: Piper PA-28R-180, N4534J, Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 5, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 5, 2012, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.193611, -80.166664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1936&lon=-80.1667&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85537 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85537/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85537 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA049 ## Probable cause The collapse of the right main landing gear during landing for reasons that could not be duplicated or determined during the postaccident investigation because of the initial unavailability of the airplane after the accident. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102809), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot lowered the landing gear during the approach and the three green landing gear indicator lights illuminated. About 500 to 600 feet after the airplane touched down, the pilot applied the brakes and the right main landing gear collapsed. An annual inspection, which involved servicing and inspecting the main landing gear, was completed 10 days before the accident. Due to the inaccessibility of the airplane, a postaccident examination of the landing gear was performed 8 months after the accident, at which time a mechanic placed the airplane on jacks, conducted an operational check of the landing gear, and examined the landing gear and its components for defects. The examination revealed evidence of corrosion, binding, and a lack of lubrication in the right main landing gear down-lock; however, the airplane was stored outside for 8 months after the accident, and it is possible that the corrosion and binding of the right main landing gear were the result of its exposure to the elements during that time. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 2012, about 1150 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N4534J, was substantially damaged when the right main landing gear collapsed while landing at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a defense visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight departed South Bimini Airport (MYBS), South Bimini, The Bahamas, destined for FXE. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot reported he lowered the landing gear during the approach to land and the three green landing gear indicator lights illuminated. During the landing roll, about 500 to 600 feet after touchdown on runway 31, the pilot applied brakes and subsequently the right main landing gear collapsed. A post accident examination of the airplane by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), revealed two cracks on a structural rib in the right wing. According to FAA records, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate, with ratings for single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot’s most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on December 28, 2010. The pilot reported 6,859 total hours of flight experience; of which, 600 of those hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The four-seat, low-wing, retractable tricycle-gear airplane, was manufactured in 1968. It was powered by a Lycoming IO-360, 180-horsepower engine, equipped with a Hartzell propeller. Review of the airplane's logbooks revealed that its most recent annual inspection was completed on October 25, 2012. During the inspection, the airplane was placed on jacks; the main landing gear and down locks were lubricated; all the wheels and brakes were inspected; the landing gear was retracted; and an operational check of the landing gear was performed. At that time, the airplane had accumulated 4,240 total hours of operation. The engine had accumulated approximately 268 total hours of operation since new. According to the airplane manufacturer’s Pilot Operating Handbook, the three green landing gear lights operated individually as each associated gear is locked in the extended position. The system also comprised of a red “Warning Gear Unsafe” light on the instrument panel and a horn that operated simultaneously in flight when the throttle is reduced to where the manifold pressure is approximately 14 inches of mercury or below, and the gear selector switch is not in the “DOWN” position. The airplane was stored outside for eight months following the accident and was located in an area that was inaccessible to perform an examination of the landing gear. The airplane was eventually moved to a hangar and on July 17, 2013, a mechanic performed an operational check of the landing gear. The airplane was placed on jacks and thelanding gear and its components were inspected for defects. The mechanic’s examination revealed corrosion, binding, and a lack of lubrication to the right main landing gear down-lock latch mechanism. The 1253 recorded weather at FXE, included wind from 270 degrees at 9 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, and scattered clouds at 1,800 feet, temperature was 26 degrees C, dew point 13 degrees C, and a barometric altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4534J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4534J), registered now, S/N 28R-30393 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30393 - Airframe hours: 4240 - Engines: LYCOMING IO 360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: World Services LLC - Registered owner: Sinopa Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 2012 - Departed: MYBS, South Bimini - Destination: FXE, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FXE, Fort Lauderdale Exec., runway 31, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 6,850 total, 600 in this make and model, 5,850 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: FXE ## 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 20121105025279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121105025279A), Nov 5, 2012: Piper PA-28R-180, Fort Lauderdlae, FL, Substantial damage. The aircraft landed runway 31 at fxe and experienced a partial landing gear colapse. Single pilot on board. No injuries noted. The right main landing gear… ## Other investigations on N4534J (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 CHI78DEV14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78DEV14), Feb 4, 1978: Piper PA-28R (N4534J), Robinson, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85537. 11.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 676 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399141&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Logbook (item 2, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387933&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Aircraft Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387910&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record (Pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381577&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record (Mechanic) (item 5, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20(Mechanic)-Master.PDF - Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) (item 6, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381578&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fort%20Lauderdale%20Executive%20Airport%20(FXE)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 7, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381579&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Retention / Release of Wreckage Form (item 8, .PDF, 263 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397402&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Retention%20%2F%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form-Redacted.PDF - Photograph #1: Aft Outboard Strutural Rib (Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 948 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%231%3A%20Aft%20Outboard%20Strutural%20Rib%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photograph #2: View of starboard side (Courtesy of FAA) (item 10, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%232%3A%20View%20of%20starboard%20side%20(Courtesy%20of%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.