# NTSB ERA18LA201: Aero Commander 560, N2705B, Crestview, FL, July 26, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 26, 2018, 09:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Crestview, FL - Coordinates: 30.778888, -86.522224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7789&lon=-86.5222&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97903 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97903/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97903 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA201 ## Probable cause A collapse of the right main landing gear for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 560, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=0141402), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 560, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0141402), [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-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander 560, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0141402), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane had not operated for about 7 years and the pilot was relocating it from Texas to Florida for repairs under a special flight permit (ferry permit) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Before departing on the flight, both main landing gear bungies were replaced, and their replacement was documented during the FAA's pre-ferry flight inspection. During the third stop of the trip, the airplane's right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination revealed that the right landing gear bungies were missing; however, the airplane was removed from the accident site before the examination could take place, and whether the bungies separated before or after the accident could not be determined. No further testing or examination of the landing gear was performed, and the reason for the gear collapse was not determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 2018, about 0950 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 560, N2705B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Crestview, Florida. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 ferry flight. The airplane had recently been purchased and was being relocated for additional maintenance. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted a Special Flight Permit (ferry permit) for the flight from Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona, to Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), Gainesville, Florida. The pilot departed SDL on July 24, but experienced right engine anomalies shortly after departure and returned to the airport. While approaching for landing, the right main landing gear light did not illuminate to indicate that it was down and locked; after troubleshooting and visually confirming that the right main gear was extended, the pilot landed uneventfully, although the gear warning horn sounded during the landing flare. The pilot reported that after landing and additional troubleshooting with a mechanic, the engine issue was resolved. The right main gear light anomaly was determined to be the result of the dimmer being closed. The mechanic reported that the pilot did not mention the landing gear warning horn. The following day, the pilot departed SDL, made one intermediate fuel stop, and then flew to Orange County Airport (ORG), Orange, Texas, with no anomalies. The pilot spent the night and departed the following morning. After an uneventful flight from ORG, while landing at Bob Sikes Airport (CEW), Crestview, Florida, to refuel, the nose landing gear settled onto the runway and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right side of the fuselage impacted the pavement and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The airplane was manufactured in 1955 and was equipped with two Lycoming GO-480-B, 270-horsepower engines driving Hartzell, three-blade, constant-speed propellers. The airplane had accumulated about 6,727 hours total time as of the ferry permit inspection on July 17, 2018, and both engines had accumulated 1,255 hours total time since overhaul. The maintenance records documented the replacement of 3 main landing gear bungies on July 13, 2018, and the FAA inspector who performed the pre-ferry flight inspection confirmed and documented their replacement. Before the accident flight, the airplane had not flown in about 7 years. Examination revealed that the bottom right side of the fuselage, several feet aft of the nose landing gear, was torn open and several ribs and stringers were damaged. In addition, the right engine pylon suffered damage. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident site reported that the right landing gear bungies were missing. It could not be determined if they were removed during recovery and stabilization of the landing gear down-lock system, as the airplane was recovered from the accident sitebefore his examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2705B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2705B-2019-03-04), registration cancelled 2019-03-04, S/N 205, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander 560 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Aero Commander 560](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-560) (registry code 0141402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (registry code 41527, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 205 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 6727 - Engines: Lycoming GO-480-B 270 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming GO-480-B 270 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Tarvair Eclipse LLC - Registered owner: Tarvair Eclipse LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special flight (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 17, 2018 - Departed: ORG, Orange, TX - Destination: CEW, Crestview, FL - Airport: CEW, Bob Sikes, runway 17, 8,004 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 17, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,985 total, 345 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CEW ## 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 20180726018029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180726018029A), Jul 26, 2018: Aero Commander 560, Crestview, FL, Substantial damage. During a ferry flight from scottsdale Arizona (ksdl)to gainesville Florida (kgnv) the aircraft was landing at Crestview Florida (kcew) for an enroute fuel stop… ## Other investigations on N2705B (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 LAX88LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA157), Apr 11, 1988: Aero Commander 560 (N2705B), Bullhead City, AZ, substantial damage ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97903. 21.3 MB in all. - Pilots 6120 accident report and statement (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 11.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9604748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Operators%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mechanics statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9613115&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2705B%20Mechanics%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspectors statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 616 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9614458&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N2705B%20Inspectors%20Statement%20signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance logbook excerpt (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 6.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9614823&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Special flight permit (ferry flight) (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 899 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9617480&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Ferry%20Flight_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record_FAA landing gear bungee installation (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9613267&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-FAA%20E-mail%20Regarding%20Bungee%20Installation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of conversation_airplane status (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9617052&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20of%20Conversation_Airplane%20Status-Rel.pdf - Photo array_ accident site and damage (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 627 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9612768&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-Rel.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.