# NTSB ERA20LA192: Beech F90, N960V, Knoxville, TN, May 18, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 18, 2020, 11:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Coordinates: 35.810276, -83.990554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8103&lon=-83.9906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101309 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101309/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101309 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA192 ## Probable cause A failure of the left main landing gear scissors, which resulted in a landing gear collapse following a precautionary landing with the landing gear in an intermediate position.. ## 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 · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md?model=1152909), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech F90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1152909), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech F90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1152909), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Beech F90, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1152909), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the pilot moved the landing gear handle to the retract position, and the red “gear unsafe” light illuminated. The pilot conducted a low-altitude approach so that the tower controller could visually confirm the condition of the landing gear; the tower controller reported that the nose landing gear appeared “slanted.” The pilot then performed the unsafe gear checklist and attempted to manually lower the landing gear, but the red gear unsafe light remained illuminated. During a subsequent low-altitude approach, the controller indicated that the main gear appeared down but that the nose gear did not appear to be fully down and locked. The pilot performed a precautionary landing, and, shortly after touchdown, the main and nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop. Examination of the left main landing gear revealed that the landing gear scissors had fractured at the bolt attachment area and that the landing gear was twisted sideways and jammed against the main gear doors. The landing gear circuit breaker that controlled the landing gear motor had popped. The airplane manufacturer’s landing gear manual extension procedure required the emergency gear selector handle to be in the STOP detent. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the handle was not placed in the STOP detent; however, it could not be determined, from the available evidence for this investigation, if the landing gear manual extension procedure could have been successfully accomplished with the landing gear system failure that occurred during the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2020, about 1110 central daylight time, a Beech F90, N960V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), Knoxville, Tennessee. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 corporate flight. According to the pilot, after takeoff from TYS, he moved the landing gear handle to the retract position; afterward, the red “gear unsafe” light illuminated. The pilot returned to the airport and conducted a low-altitude approach so that an airport tower controller could visually confirm the landing gear position. The tower controller reported that the nose landing gear appeared “slanted like it wasn’t down and locked.” The pilot performed the unsafe gear checklist and attempted to manually lower the landing gear, but the red gear unsafe light remained illuminated. During a subsequent low-altitude approach, the controller indicated that the main gear appeared down but that the nose gear did not appear to be fully down and locked. The pilot conducted another low-altitude approach and was told that the gear condition had not changed. He then elected to perform a precautionary landing. Shortly after touchdown, the main and nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to rest on a taxiway. Examination of the airplane revealed that several stringers and ribs were impact damaged, the nose landing gear actuator punctured the top of the fuselage, and the left aileron was impact damaged. Examination of the left main landing gear revealed that the landing gear scissors had fractured at the bolt attachment area and that the landing gear was twisted sideways and jammed against the main landing gear doors. The landing gear circuit breaker that controlled the landing gear motor had popped. Examination of the landing gear handle revealed that the emergency engage handle was not placed in the STOP detent, the position indicated in the landing gear manual extension procedures in the pilot’s operating handbook. A review of the operator’s maintenance records revealed that. on February 6, 2020, the airplane underwent a landing gear overhaul. At the time of the overhaul, the airplane had accumulated a total of 12,512 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane had a total time of 12,533 hours During the 21 hours that the airplane flew between the landing gear overhaul and the accident, no reports of any mechanical irregularity were documented. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N960V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N960V-2021-04-17), registration cancelled 2021-04-17, S/N LA-31, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech F90 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Beech F90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-f90) (registry code 1152909) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-135) (registry code 52173, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LA-31 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 12532 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT-6A 750 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT-6A 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Empire Equipment Llc - Registered owner: Empire Equipment Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 20, 2019, 20 hours before - Departed: TYS, Knoxville, TN - Destination: HXD, Hilton Head Island, SC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TYS, Mc Ghee Tyson Airport, runway 24L, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,411 total, 97 in this make and model, 5,100 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 49; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 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 20200518006769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200518006769A), May 18, 2020: Beech F90, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. After takeoff the PIC discovered the landing gear was stuck in transit mode and tried to extend them with the hand pump, but to no avail. After several flyby's… ## Other investigations on N960V (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 CHI86LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86LA143), May 20, 1986: Beech BE-F90 (N960V), Eaton, IN, substantial damage ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101309. 62.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 18.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9718606&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13714425&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot-Rel.pdf - Maintenance record excerpt_landing gear overhaul (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13756110&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Record_Landing%20Gear%20Overhaul_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Landing gear system POH excerpt (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13762928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Landing%20Gear%20System%20POH%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf - FAA preliminary findings on gear email (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 714 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13713232&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Preliminary%20Findings%20of%20Landing%20Gear%20Email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport security camera showing accident (item 6, AVI, 38.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9727451&FileExtension=avi&FileName=2020-05-19%2011.25.01.250%20AM-Rel.avi - Record of conversation_salvage company (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13763757&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Salvage%20Company_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and airplane damage (item 8, PDF, 7 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13715150&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.