# NTSB ERA25LA096: Piper PA-44-180, N555HF, Pompano Beach, FL, January 10, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 10, 2025, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Pompano Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 26.250118, -80.111712 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2501&lon=-80.1117&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 2025
- 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): 199541
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199541/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199541
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA096

## Probable cause

The separation of the securing hardware for the right main landing gear upper and lower torque links for undetermined reasons, which prevented extension of the right main landing gear.

## 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 · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Both pilots reported that after performing airwork they returned to the departure airport where multiple uneventful full stop landings were performed. They then departed and while on the base leg of the airport traffic pattern the right main landing gear did not fully extend. At that point the designated pilot examiner (DPE) took the controls from the pilot applicant, and during the course of 90 minutes, made multiple attempts to fully lower the right main landing gear that were ultimately unsuccessful. The DPE then elected to land with the landing gear retracted rather than with two landing gear down and one retracted. After touchdown the airplane came to rest near the runway centerline. The underside of the fuselage was substantially damaged during the landing. After raising the airplane from the runway, the right main landing gear was manually pulled out of the wheel well and during that process it was discovered that the hardware that secured the upper and lower torque links were not in position and could not be located. Since the hardware could not be found, no determination could be made as to the reason for the separation of the hardware. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the hardware securing the right main landing gear torque links was replaced last on about 11 months before the accident. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accrued about 324 flight hours since the hardware replacement. The mechanic who performed the last 100-Hour inspection, about 6 months and 46 hours before the accident, reported that he did not notice any abnormality or defects with the torque link bolts at that time.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N555HF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N555HF), registered now, S/N 4496176, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4496176
- Year built: 2003
- Airframe hours: 6248
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING LO-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Flight test, Part 91
- Operator: American Flyers Inc.
- Registered owner: Christiansen Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 22, 2024, 46 hours before
- Airport: PMP, Pompano Beach Airpark, runway 15, 4,918 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Check pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13,018 total, 320 in this make and model, 10,858 as pilot in command, 169 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Other flight crew; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 23, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,566 total, 12 in this make and model, 1,166 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: KPMP
- METAR: KPMP 101612Z 13008KT 10SM SCT037 21/12 A3008 RMK AO2 T02110122

## 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 20250110000109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250110000109A), Jan 10, 2025: Piper PA-44-180, Pompano Beach, FL, Substantial damage. After completing MEI check ride and several touch-and-go's, aircraft headed back to pmp for normal landing. Aircraft turned base for final approach and pilot…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199541. 22.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1-from operator (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19313973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Fm%20Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1-from DPE (item 2, PDF, 14 pages, 5 photos, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19314470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Fm%20DPE%20W%20Narrative_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1-from pilot applicant (item 3, PDF, 10 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19314692&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Fm%20Applicant_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Main landing gear torque link bolt removal and replacement entry (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19317603&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Torque%20Link%20Bolt%20Replacement%20Logbook%20Entry_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Statements from operator (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 440 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19328737&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statements%20Fm%20Operator_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 9 pages, 8 photos, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19328960&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20v01_ERA25LA096-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 412 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19318041&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_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.

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