# NTSB ERA24LA337: Piper PA-32R-301T, N5343C, North Myrtle Beach, SC, July 30, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 29, 2024, 21:30 local (Jul 30, 2024, 01:30 UTC) - Place: North Myrtle Beach, SC - Coordinates: 33.81175, -78.723944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8118&lon=-78.7239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - 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): 194838 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA337 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194838/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194838 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA337 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to use the emergency landing gear extension system, resulting in a gear-up landing. Contributing to the accident was an alternator belt failure. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: dC generator-alternator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022434): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022434/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022434/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a cross-country flight in night, visual meteorological conditions, the airplane’s alternator failed. He described that he misinterpreted the alternator warning light illuminating, and did not realize that the alternator had failed. Some time later the battery failed, resulting in a total loss of electrical power. He recalled making the decision to continue to his originally intended destination because of his familiarity with the airport. As he entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at the destination airport, he began his emergency checklists in preparation for landing. While performing the checklists he noticed that the airplane’s speed was too fast, so he attempted to extend the flaps to slow down. Upon activation, he realized they would not function without electrical power. Amid these efforts he continued the emergency checklist, pulling what he thought was the hydraulic system circuit breaker, but what a post-accident inspection revealed to actually be the standby vacuum pump circuit breaker. The pilot reported that he continued setting up the airplane for landing but did extend the landing gear using the emergency gear extension system. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane with the landing gear still up, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage’s external longerons. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the emergency landing gear extension handle was in the stowed position. The emergency landing gear extension system was functionally tested while the airplane was on jacks and found to function satisfactorily. Once electrical power was restored, the landing gear retraction/extension system operated normally. Additionally, the alternator belt was found broken, which likely resulted in the alternator’s failure during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5343C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5343C), registered now, S/N 3257255 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301T - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3257255 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 2760 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Franks Flying LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 21, 2023, 58 hours before - Departed: 0A7, Hendersonville, NC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CRE, Grand Strand, runway 23, 5,997 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 22, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,365.1 total, 690.5 in this make and model, 1,365 as pilot in command, 2.9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: CRE - METAR: KCRE 300253Z AUTO 21009KT 10SM OVC055 27/20 A3004 RMK AO1 SLP172 T02670200 51008 ## 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 20240729014339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240729014339A), Jul 29, 2024: Piper PA-32R-301T, North Myrtle Be, SC, Substantial damage. Aircraft was traveling from KOA7 to kcre at 9,500 at night (23:31 time of inciddent). Aircraft experienced alternator issue from a shredded alternator belt. As… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194838. 11.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 10.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17499319&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� email, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17522442&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Pilot%20additional%20narrative%20information-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� email, mechanic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17498844&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Mechanic%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 731 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17521435&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.