# NTSB ERA22LA048: Piper PA-31-350, N3VM, Fort Lauderdale, FL, September 26, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 26, 2021, 15:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.198581, -80.174066
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1986&lon=-80.1741&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: 5 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): 104212
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104212/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104212
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA048

## Probable cause

The collapse of the left main landing gear for reasons that could not be determined.

## 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 · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7103110), [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-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after a normal approach and landing, during the landing roll after about 5 to 6 seconds, the left main landing gear collapsed. He immediately pulled the mixtures to idle-cut-off, the left wing contacted the runway, and the airplane skidded into the grass to the left of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that he observed three gear down green indications prior to landing. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system and functional tests found that the nose and main landing gear system functioned normally, and in addition, the three green indicator lights functioned normally. The investigation was unable to duplicate any fault or discover any anomaly with the landing gear system.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3VM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3VM), registered now, S/N 31-7305069, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-541 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-541-series) (registry code 41536, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7305069
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 17864
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Aztec Worldwide Airlines Inc, doing business as Aztec Airways
- Registered owner: Aztec Worldwide Airlines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 23, 2021
- Departed: MYAT, Treasure Cay, OF
- Destination: FXE, Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FXE, Fort Lauderdale Executive, runway 09/27, 6,002 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 13, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 11,796 total, 4,858 in this make and model, 163 in the last 90 days, 81 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: FXE
- METAR: METAR KFXE 261953Z 05009KT 10SM FEW033 FEW050 SCT090 30/22 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP166 T03000222=


## 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 20210926016059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210926016059A), Sep 26, 2021: Piper PA-31-350, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. On September 26, 2021, at approximately 15:24 eastern standard time (EST) a Piper PA-31-350, operating in accordance with part 135, departed malden municipal…

## 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=104212. 6.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13152794&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Operator%20Accident%20Report%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB memorandum (landing gear exam) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13154286&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20MFR%20(Landing%20Gear%20Exam)-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 270 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13153536&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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