# NTSB ERA20LA259: Beech 400, N425BJ, Montgomery, AL, July 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 22, 2020, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Montgomery, AL - Coordinates: 32.301387, -86.395278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3014&lon=-86.3953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Textron - NTSB case key (mKey): 101664 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101664/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101664 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA259 ## Probable cause Landing with the left main landing gear retracted due to the failure of the landing gear control unit, which resulted in substantial damage. ## 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 · Failure; cases with it: [Beech 400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1155400), [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. - [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1155400), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot did not receive a positive indication that the left main landing gear was down and locked. After completing all applicable emergency checklists, he elected to shut down the left engine and land with the left main landing gear retracted. The left wing was substantially damaged during landing. During postaccident examination the landing gear control unit was replaced, and the landing gear functioned normally. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2020, about 1100 central daylight time, a Beech 400, N425BJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM), Montgomery, Alabama. The two pilots and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after extending the landing gear for landing, he did not receive a positive indication that the left main landing gear was down and locked. The pilot referred to the airplane’s emergency procedures for manual landing gear extension, but this procedure failed to extend the gear. The pilot then elected to shut down the left engine and land with the left main landing gear retracted. During landing, the pilot was able to keep the airplane on the runway surface. The left wing was substantially damaged from contact with the runway surface. During postaccident examination by a mechanic, the landing gear and doors would not retract or extend normally after multiple attempts. Troubleshooting identified the landing gear control unit as the possible source of the anomalies. The landing gear control unit was replaced, and the landing gear functioned normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N425BJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N425BJ), registered now, S/N RJ25, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 400 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Beech 400](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-400) (registry code 1155400) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-5) (registry code 52197, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: RJ25 - Year built: 1987 - Airframe hours: 6860 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5 2850 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5 2850 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: N425bj LLC - Registered owner: N425bj LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Unknown, December 1, 2019 - Departed: HSV, Huntsville, AL - Destination: MGM, Montgomery, AL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MGM, Montgomery Rgnl (Dannelly Fiel, runway 10, 9,020 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 21, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 26,974 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 25,774 as pilot in command, 1,004 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 921 total, 12 in this make and model, 840 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: MGM, 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 20200722008999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200722008999A), Jul 22, 2020: Beech 400, Montgomery, AL, Substantial damage. During final approach into Montgomery regional airport (mgm) the left main landing gear failed to extend. After troubleshooting and exhausting all means to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101664. 8.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11656251&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11656482&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Mechanic statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11656295&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N425BJ%20Mechanic%20Statement_Redacted-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.