# NTSB ERA19LA123: Beech A100, N945WS, Latrobe, PA, March 12, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 12, 2019, 13:36 local (17:36 UTC) - Place: Latrobe, PA - Coordinates: 40.273056, -79.408332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2731&lon=-79.4083&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: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99100/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99100 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA123 ## Probable cause A landing gear collapse due to the separation of the actuator pinion bearing support from the actuator, which resulted in the failure of the actuator shaft. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear actuator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech A100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md?model=1152915), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/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: [Beech A100, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1152915), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while lowering the landing gear handle in preparation for landing, he and the co-pilot heard a crunching noise. He noticed that the landing gear indicator lights did not turn green, and the crew was unable to extend the gear manually. The crew diverted to an airport with emergency equipment and a control tower. Following a fly-by, the tower controller reported that the landing gear appeared to be extended; however, during the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed, followed by the right main landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed that the main landing gear mechanical linkage was compromised, and the right main landing gear actuator shaft was broken. A mechanic examined the airplane and found that the actuator pinion bearing support had separated from the actuator for undetermined reasons, causing a side load to the actuator and initiating the fracture. ## Factual narrative On March 12, 2019, about 1336 eastern daylight time, a Beech A100, N945WS, was substantially damaged after the main landing gear collapsed during landing at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (LBE), Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The two airline transport pilots and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Capital City Airport (CXY), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and was destined for Rostraver Airport (FWQ), Monongahela, Pennsylvania. The business flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, the airplane was on approach to FWQ when he lowered the landing gear handle and heard a crunching noise. He noticed there were no green cockpit indicator lights to confirm that the landing gear was down and locked. The pilot then asked the co-pilot to circle the airport while he reviewed the emergency procedures for extending the landing gear in the airplane flight manual. He tried to extend the landing gear manually, but it appeared to be jammed. The pilot and co-pilot discussed the situation and decided to fly to LBE as that airport had a control tower and emergency equipment. The pilot flew by the tower and asked if tower personnel could see the landing gear down. The tower controller told him that the landing gear appeared to be down. During the subsequent landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed, followed shortly by the right main landing gear. The airplane then slid to a stop on the centerline of the runway and the flight crew and passengers egressed the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the main landing gear mechanical linkage was compromised, and the right main landing gear actuator shaft was broken. The actuator was retained for further examination. The airplane was repaired at LBE with oversight from the FAA. During the repair, the right main landing gear actuator was observed to be fractured. Additionally, the actuator pinion bearing had separated from the actuator, which could cause a side load to the actuator and initiate the fracture. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N945WS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N945WS-2021-11-23), registration cancelled 2021-11-23, S/N B-94, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech A100 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Beech A100](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a100) (registry code 1152915) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: B-94 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 10984 - Engines: Honeywell TPE-331 715 horsepower turbo prop; Honeywell TPE-331 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 1, 2019 - Departed: CXY, Harrisburg, PA - Destination: FWQ, Monongahela, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LBE, Arnold Palmer Rgnl, runway 24, 8,222 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20,611 total, 850.7 in this make and model, 10.1 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 9,400 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: KLBE, 1 nm away ## 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 20190312001209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190312001209A), Mar 12, 2019: Beech A100, Latrobe, PA, Substantial damage. Statement from [privacy data omitted] on king air N945WS on March 12th 2019. On the morning of March 12, I checked weather & filed a IFR flight plan from… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99100. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 244 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Mechanic Statement (item 4, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Statement-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 5, .PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Investigative Photos (item 6, .PDF, 5 photos, 754 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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.