# NTSB ERA24LA170: Beta Biz LX7, N222MA, Huntsville, AL, March 30, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 30, 2024, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Huntsville, AL · Airport - Coordinates: 34.646367, -86.782303 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6464&lon=-86.7823&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: 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): 194046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194046/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194046 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA170 ## Probable cause The failure of the nose landing gear actuator forward hydraulic fitting, which resulted in a main landing gear collapse during landing due to the loss of hydraulic fluid and pressure. ## 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 · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beta Biz BETA BIZ LX7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md?model=05639I9), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/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: [Beta Biz BETA BIZ LX7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05639I9), [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: [Beta Biz BETA BIZ LX7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05639I9), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane had completed an uneventful cross-country flight until the arrival to his destination airport. When the landing gear was lowered on approach, the pilot observed a “gear unsafe” message and the hydraulic pump continuously operated. The nose landing gear (NLG) indicated down and locked, but neither main landing gear lights illuminated. The pilot cycled the landing gear, however, there was no change in the unsafe gear condition. He then circled away from the airport and performed an emergency gear extension, but that also did not resolve the gear configuration malfunction. Subsequently, the pilot completed an emergency landing at the destination airport with only the NLG down and locked. Upon touchdown, both main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded on its empennage and rudder to a stop, which resulted in substantial damage. Postaccident examination revealed that the NLG actuator forward hydraulic fitting had sheared, which allowed hydraulic fluid and pressure to empty from the system, preventing the main landing gear from fully extending and locking into place. Following the accident, the pilot identified that the hydraulic fitting had sheared. He subsequently replenished the hydraulic fluid, capped the fitting that had failed, and was able to lower the main landing gear normally and tow the airplane back to the ramp. The pilot, who was also the owner/repairman for the airplane, had replaced the nose landing gear actuator two times, with the most recent replacement occurring 3.4 hours prior to the accident. The pilot reported that the prior actuators would leak, resulting in the hydraulic pump running continuously. During the most recent installation, the pilot adjusted the hydraulic fitting because it was not aligned with the actuator. He performed several gear swings and flew six flights without issue after this maintenance. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N222MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N222MA), registered now, S/N 014, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BETA BIZ LLC LX7 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Beta Biz BETA BIZ LX7](https://openairdocs.org/model/beta-biz-beta-biz-lx7) (registry code 05639I9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 014 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 354 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550E 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Beta Biz LLC - Registered owner: Beta Biz LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 10, 2024, 3 hours before - Departed: CKM, Clarksdale, MS - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HSV, Huntsville International Airport, runway 18R/36L, 12,600 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,902 total, 360 in this make and model, 2,709 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 9 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: HSV, 1 nm away - METAR: KHSV 301753Z 24009G17KT 10SM FEW050 23/08 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP173 T02330083 10233 20106 58013 $ ## 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 20240330003349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240330003349A), Mar 30, 2024: Beta Biz LLC BETA BIZ LX7, Huntsville, AL, Minor damage. Pilot reported abnormal landing gear indication upon approach (main gear indicated in transit). Pilot tried emergency gear extension, without success. Aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194046. 8.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17321859&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17321477&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 7 photos, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17320795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%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.