# NTSB ERA18LA171: Piper PA 30, N8674Y, Vero Beach, FL, June 17, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 2018, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Vero Beach, FL - Coordinates: 27.655555, -80.418052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6556&lon=-80.4181&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 April 30, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97533 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97533/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97533 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA171 ## Probable cause The collapse of all three landing gear for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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-30, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7103002), [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-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 private pilot reported that, after a local flight, he returned to his home airport and entered the right base leg of the airport traffic pattern for landing. Due to traffic ahead of him, the pilot extended the landing gear early to decrease airspeed. He confirmed that the landing gear were extended by seeing the green light indication in the cockpit and by using the reflective mirror on the left engine nacelle to see that the nose landing gear (NLG) was extended. On short final approach, the pilot again confirmed that the landing gear were extended, and the airplane touched down near the touchdown markings. The pilot added that, after about 500 ft of landing roll, the NLG collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. Examination of the wreckage revealed that all three landing gear had collapsed. Further examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the main landing extension rods were found bent, no anomalies or damage was found that would have precluded normal operation of the landing gear. Therefore, the reason for the landing gear collapse could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2018, about 1120 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N8674Y, was substantially damaged while landing at Vero Beach Regional Airport (VRB), Vero Beach, Florida. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated by the private pilot as personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed VRB about 1040.The pilot reported that after a local flight, he returned to VRB and entered the right base leg of the airport traffic pattern for landing on runway 4. Due to traffic ahead of him, the pilot extended the landing gear early to decrease airspeed. He confirmed that the landing gear was extended via the green light indication in the cockpit and by utilizing the reflective mirror on the left engine nacelle to see the nosegear extended. The pilot again confirmed that the landing gear was extended on short final approach and the airplane touched down near the touchdown markings. After about 500 feet of landing roll, the nosegear collapsed and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway. Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that all three landing gear were collapsed. The inspector also noted substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The airplane was subsequently recovered to a hangar and placed on jacks. A mechanic examined the airplane for the purpose of providing a repair estimate to the insurance adjuster. During the examination, no anomalies or damage were found to the landing gear system, with the exception of bent main landing gear extension rods. The recorded weather at VRB, at 1153, included wind from 030° at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles and clear sky. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8674Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8674Y-2019-09-20), registration cancelled 2019-09-20, S/N 30-1818, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 30 (NO SERIES) - 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: 30-1818 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 7865 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 2017, 10 hours before - Departed: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Destination: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Regional, runway 4, 4,974 × 100 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 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 3, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 449 total, 109 in this make and model, 347 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: VRB ## 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 20180617024269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180617024269A), Jun 17, 2018: Piper PA-30, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. During a routine flight north to melbourne and back south to Vero Beach airport sightseeing the local beaches. At the conclusion of the flight, the aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 8, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97533. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 4, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470227&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-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.