# NTSB ERA18LA044: Piper PA34, N8328V, Thomasville, GA, December 3, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 3, 2017, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Thomasville, GA - Coordinates: 30.901388, -83.881385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9014&lon=-83.8814&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96431 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96431/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96431 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA044 ## Probable cause A stone becoming lodged in a left main landing gear (MLG) drag link, which resulted in the failure of the left MLG to extend and lock. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis While the commercial pilot was lowering the landing gear for the approach to landing, the left main landing gear (MLG) did not indicate down and locked. The pilot cycled the landing gear three times and then used the manual landing gear extension procedure, but the gear did not extend. After airport personnel reported that all three landing gear appeared to be down, the pilot continued the approach for a full-stop landing. After touchdown, the left MLG collapsed. The airplane turned 90° to the left and then came to a stop in the grass adjacent to the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the left MLG revealed that it remained partially retracted in the gear well. The other landing gear were down and locked. After the airplane was raised with a backhoe and the left MLG was manually pulled down, the down-lock hooks would not engage, and the drag links would not allow full extension. When a mechanic ran his finger through the drag link mating surfaces, a small stone fell out. Once the stone was removed, the left MLG extended and locked normally. It is likely that the stone had become lodged in the left MLG drag link and prevented the left MLG from locking. ## Factual narrative On December 3, 2017, about 1530 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N8328V, was substantially damaged during landing at Thomasville Regional Airport (TVI), Thomasville, Georgia. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to Quick Gas Aviation LLC and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight originated at P K Airpark (5W4), Raeford, North Carolina about 1300, and was destined for TVI.The pilot reported that the enroute portion of the flight was uneventful. While lowering the landing gear for the approach at TVI, the left main gear did not indicate down and locked. The pilot cycled the landing gear three times, and then utilized the manual landing gear extension procedure, with no changes. Aerial observation of the landing gear by airport personnel indicated that all three-landing gear appeared to be down. The pilot continued the approach for a landing on runway 4. After touchdown, the left main gear collapsed. The airplane turned 90º to the left and came to a stop in the grass, adjacent to the runway. The airplane was examined by an airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization. Structural damage to the left wing was confirmed. The left main landing gear was found partially retracted in the gear well. The other gear were extended and locked. The airplane was raised with a backhoe and the left main gear was manually pulled down. The down lock hooks would not engage and the drag links would not allow full extension. The mechanic then ran his finger through the drag link mating surfaces and a small stone, with grease on it, came out and fell into the grass. He was unable to find the object in the grass. The landing gear then extended and locked in a normal manner. After manually troubleshooting the landing gear, hydraulic power was applied and the gear extended normally with three green indications. The airplane was then moved to a hangar where an additional examination was performed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who noted no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8328V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8328V), registered now, S/N 34-8170084, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA34 (200T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 GB](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-gb) (registry code 17070, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34-8170084 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 4161 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-360-KB 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2016, 100 hours before - Departed: 5W4, Raeford, NC - Destination: TVI, Thomasville, GA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TVI, Thomasville Regional, runway 04, 6,004 × 101 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 2, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,822 total, 1,900 in this make and model, 2,514 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: TVI ## 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 20171203022589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171203022589A), Dec 3, 2017: Piper PA-34-200T, Thomasville, GA, Substantial damage. On 12/03/2017 the pilot of aircraft N8328V departed pk airpark (5W4), raeford, NC at approximately 13:05 enroute to Thomasville regional airport (tvi),… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96431. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Written%20Statement-Master.PDF - Mechanic's Written Statement (item 3, .PDF, 376 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%27s%20Written%20Statement-Master.PDF - Landing Gear Procedures (item 4, .PDF, 443 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469216&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Landing%20Gear%20Procedures-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 5, .PDF, 4 photos, 398 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469217&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.