# NTSB ERA19CA291: Beech 55, N854T, Sebring, FL, September 13, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 13, 2019, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Sebring, FL
- Coordinates: 27.456388, -81.342498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4564&lon=-81.3425&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 June 16, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA / FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100987
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19CA291
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100987/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100987
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19CA291

## Probable cause

The passenger’s inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during the landing roll without being instructed to do so by the pilot.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech E-55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1152732), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech E-55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=1152732), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Beech E-55, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1152732), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech E-55, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1152732), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, shortly after landing, the passenger, without his permission or guidance, retracted the landing gear. The airplane impacted the runway, slid about 600 ft, and then came to rest. The pilot-rated passenger reported that, without the pilot's guidance, he mistakenly raised the gear handle then quickly lowered it again, thinking it was the flap handle, and that he was attempting to assist the pilot. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the center wing spar.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the retractable landing gear-equipped airplane reported that, shortly after landing the passenger, without his permission or guidance retracted the landing gear. The landing gear retracted, airplane impacted the runway and slid about 600 ft before coming to rest on the runway. The pilot rated passenger reported that, without the pilot's guidance, he mistakenly raised the gear handle then quickly lowered it again, thinking it was the flap handle. He was attempting to assist the pilot. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the center wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N854T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N854T-2020-10-31), registration cancelled 2020-10-31, S/N TE-998, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech 55 (E55)
- Registry model: [Beech E-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e-55) (registry code 1152732) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-998
- Year built: 1974
- Engines: Continental IO-550 Series reciprocating; Continental IO-550 Series reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL
- Destination: SEF, Sebring, FL
- Airport: SEF, Sebring Rgnl, runway 01, 5,234 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 19, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 645 total, 90 in this make and model, 470 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot-rated passenger; age 40; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 60° at 13 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KSEF

## 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 20190913018129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190913018129A), Sep 13, 2019: Beech E-55, Sebring, FL, Substantial damage. After a successful landing with the gear in the down position during landing rollout the passenger tried to assist the pilot in bringing up the flaps and…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 25, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100987. 1.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 832 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481589&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation with A & P (item 3, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20A%20%26%20P-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 4, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.

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