# NTSB ERA20CA265: Piper PA28R, N31720, Fernandina Beach, FL, July 25, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 25, 2020, 09:40 local (13:40 UTC) - Place: Fernandina Beach, FL - Coordinates: 30.613056, -81.46611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6131&lon=-81.4661&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101699 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA265 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101699/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101699 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA265 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear to extend prior to landing, which could not be duplicated during postaccident tests. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane had just undergone an annual inspection, and this was the first flight since the work had been completed. After a normal preflight and run-up, the pilot departed, raised the landing gear, and during the initial climb, he felt an "intermittent shudder" from the engine. He reported that all of the engine parameters appeared normal, and when he reduced power in the climb the shudder stopped. The pilot subsequently decided to land immediately; he reported that on downwind in the airport traffic pattern, abeam the runway numbers, he recalled that he lowered the flaps and landing gear. He further reported that the approach was stable, and that the airplane touched down on the left main landing gear first, and as the airplane settled to the runway, the "right wing tip dropped to the runway." The airplane subsequently skidded off the runway and into terrain where the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that throughout the traffic pattern, he was "intently watching the engine monitor" and could not recall observing the three green landing gear down annunciator lights prior to landing, however, he recalled that the gear unsafe warning light directly in front of him was not red at any point during the flight. He reported that after the accident, when the airplane was lifted up for recovery, the right main landing gear was found retracted in its well. A witness that was located on airport property reported that he observed the airplane on short final, and the right main landing gear appeared to be retracted, but the left and nose landing gear appeared to be down. He subsequently observed the airplane touch down on the left main landing gear and roll for "quite some time" before the right wing contacted the runway. Examination of the landing gear system by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector following the accident found that the nose and right main landing gear functioned normally through multiple cycles. The respective green landing gear annunciator lights functioned normally, and the nose and right main landing gear fell and locked into place through the activation of the emergency gear release handle as well. The left main landing gear was disconnected from the system prior to the tests due to damage sustained in the runway excursion. The investigation was unable to duplicate any operational discrepancies with the landing gear system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N31720](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31720-2022-01-11), registration cancelled 2022-01-11, S/N 28R-7803297, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28R (201T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7803297 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5267 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-FB 201 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 2020 - Departed: FHB, Fernandina Beach, FL - Destination: FHB, Fernandina Beach, FL - Airport: FHB, Fernandina Beach Muni, runway 13, 5,152 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 18, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 215 total, 17 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 0.4 in the last 90 days, 0.4 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: FHB ## 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 20200725011399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200725011399A), Jul 25, 2020: Piper PA-28R-201T, Fernandina Beac, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed runway 13 at (fhb)for a maintenance test flight following annual inspection of the aircraft. After departure at 400'AGL the pilot reported an… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101699. 13.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 681 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10073692&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10073348&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (FAA inspector) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10073433&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement memo (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10073235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20Memo_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (pilot) (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10073935&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (witness) (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10073514&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Witness)-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 7, PDF, 6 pages, 6 photos, 10.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10073645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array2-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.