# NTSB ERA19LA125: Piper PA31, N45MJ, Leesburg, FL, March 8, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 8, 2019, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Leesburg, FL - Coordinates: 28.822778, -81.808334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8228&lon=-81.8083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: 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): 99106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99106/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99106 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA125 ## Probable cause Maintenance personnel’s improper rigging of the main landing gear actuators, which resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear. ## 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 · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-325, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103105), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Maintenance: repair](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-325, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md?model=7103105), [All aircraft, 99 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-325, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103105), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while his airplane was undergoing an annual inspection, maintenance personnel suggested that an inner landing gear door kit be installed. After the door kit installation was completed, numerous test flights were conducted. Rigging adjustments were made after each flight, and while taxiing back to the ramp following the last flight, the right landing gear collapsed. A postaccident extension and retraction test were performed using a hydraulic test unit. Both normal and emergency (hand pump) landing gear extension and retraction tests were performed. When checking the actuator rigging, both left and right main landing gear actuators did not drive the main gear into a locked position. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the landing gear system were observed, thus it is likely that the rigging condition resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear. ## Factual narrative On March 8, 2019, about 1000 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-31-325, N45MJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Leesburg, Florida. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a flight test under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, he delivered his airplane to a maintenance facility for an annual inspection. It was suggested by maintenance personnel that an inner landing gear door kit be installed (STC SA00555DE) during the annual inspection. After the door kit installation was completed, numerous test flights were conducted. During the landing gear extension, two green landing lights appeared as expected, but the third light (right main landing gear) was very slow to illuminate. Adjustments were made after each flight, and on the last flight while taxiing back to the ramp after landing the right landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed buckling of the right inboard wing. Post-accident extension and retraction test were performed using a hydraulic test unit. Both normal and emergency (hand pump) landing gear extension and retraction test were performed. During normal extension it was noted the landing gear locking time was approximately 25 seconds, which exceeded the manufacturer’s specified time limit; however, the hydraulic test fixture used did not have flow control, which could account for this anomaly. It was discovered when checking the actuator rigging that both left and right main landing gear actuators did not drive the main gears into a locked position. Slight hand pressure on the gear door (inboard force) would keep the main landing gear from locking as actuator piston travel was bottomed out. When the force was removed, the weight of the gear would lock the gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45MJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45MJ), registered now, S/N 31-7912104 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA31 (325) - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-325](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-325) (registry code 7103105) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7912104 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 4984 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming LTIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 17, 2019 - Departed: LEE, Orlando, FL - Destination: LEE, Orlando, FL - Airport: LEE, Leesburg Intl, runway 13, 6,300 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 8, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,385 total, 694 in this make and model, 3,385 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: LEE, 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 20190308001039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190308001039A), Mar 8, 2019: Piper PA-31-325, Leesburg, FL, Substantial damage. On March 8th after departing Leesburg International Airport (lee) for a maintenance operational check of the landing gear system due to the installation of a… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99106. 7.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9546581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N45MJ%20LA125_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record FAA email correspondence (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9547446&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20email%20correspondence%20LA125_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9546146&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20log%20book%20records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Actuator rigging excerpt (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9546433&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Actuator%20rigging%20excerpt%20LA125-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9546971&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA125-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.