# NTSB ERA22LA138: Piper PA-30, N7943Y, Farmingdale, NY, February 28, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 28, 2022, 11:56 local (16:56 UTC) - Place: Farmingdale, NY - Coordinates: 40.729274, -73.413421 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7293&lon=-73.4134&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: 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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104707 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104707/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104707 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA138 ## Probable cause The flight crew’s failure to verify the landing gear position prior to landing. Contributing to the accident was an overload in the landing gear motor electrical circuit which resulted in the circuit breaker opening, preventing the landing gear from extending. ## 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 · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis Prior to landing during the commercial multi-engine checkride flight, the pilot performed the flight school’s landing checklist as he flew s-turns on the final approach leg to slow for traffic ahead. The pilot reported that “during the unstable approach my attention was divided between obliging the DPE’s (designated pilot examiner) advisements, slower traffic ahead of us, traffic behind, and listening (for a) possibl(e)…go-around (instruction) due to poor spacing.” He stated that he did not see the amber gear-up light illuminate and did not hear the landing gear warning horn. The pilot further reported that during the approach, the DPE advised him to not “reduce the power that much, we’re going to get behind the power curve and sink”, which he heeded. The airplane landed with the landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear motor circuit breaker was open. During recovery of the airplane from the runway, a mechanic reset the circuit breaker, after which the landing gear operated normally. Subsequent testing of the landing gear revealed that the landing gear warning horn and the green landing gear down and locked indicator light functioned normally. According to the airplane owner’s handbook, the amber light should flash when power is reduced on one engine with the landing gear up. The landing gear warning horn should sound when power is reduced on both engines below about 12 inches of manifold pressure if the landing gear is not down and locked. Given the pilot’s report of landing with some engine power applied, the power setting may have been above the threshold to activate the landing gear warning horn. Another pilot reported that a similar event occurred about two months prior to the accident. During an approach, when he moved the landing gear selector to the down position, there was no noise, and the landing gear down and locked indicator light did not illuminate. He performed a go around, and then discovered that the landing gear motor circuit breaker was open. He reset the circuit breaker and lowered the landing gear, which operated normally thereafter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7943Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7943Y-2023-11-27), registration cancelled 2023-11-27, S/N 30-1036, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-1036 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 5505 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming LIO-320-B1A 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Century Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 2021 - Departed: HWV, Shirley, NY - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FRG, Republic, runway 32, 6,833 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 28, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 442 total, 10 in this make and model, 372 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Check pilot; injuries: none; remote, flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 5 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: FRG - METAR: KFRG 281653Z 34008KT 10SM CLR 01/M15 A3029 RMK AO2 SLP256 T00061150 ## 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 20220228002999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220228002999A), Feb 28, 2022: Piper PA-30, Farmingdale, NY, Substantial damage. On febuary 28, 2022, at Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY, [privacy data omitted] landed on runway 32 with gear up while pilot was receving a multi engine… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104707. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13769686&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20NTSB%20Form%206120_pilot_b_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's and designated pilot examiner's statements (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 2 photos, 747 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13676303&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20%20MFR%20-%20Pilot%20and%20Designated%20Pilot%20Examiner%20Statements_ERA22LA138_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - information from FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 211 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13676147&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20%20MFR%20-%20Information%20from%20FAA%20Inspector_ERA22LA138_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - operator (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 582 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13676157&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-06%20ERA22LA138%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Comparison of checklists - manufacturer vs operator (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13676394&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-01%20Checklist%20Comparison-Rel.pdf - Excerpts from owner's handbook - 1965-1968 Piper PA-30 (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13675783&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-02%20Pages%20from%20PA-30B%201965-1968%20OH%20753-697%20(002)-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 7, PDF, 5 pages, 5 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13676167&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA22LA138-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.