# NTSB ERA25LA100: Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200, N8BZ, Orange, MA, January 12, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 12, 2025, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Orange, MA - Coordinates: 42.569997, -72.288498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5700&lon=-72.2885&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: 1 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): 199579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199579/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199579 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA100 ## Probable cause Failure of the left main landing gear to fully extend and lock for undetermined reasons as a functional test of the landing gear system could not duplicate the anomaly. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2400108), [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: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2400108), [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: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibian airplane reported that while on approach to the destination airport, he attempted to extend the landing gear. The nose landing gear and right main landing gear extended and locked; however, the left main landing gear only partially extended. The pilot could not correct the anomaly by troubleshooting and using the emergency checklist. He subsequently elected to return to his home airport and perform a gear-up landing on a grass area adjacent to the runway. During the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage bulkheads and right wing. The pilot and a mechanic recovered the airplane to a hangar. Several days later, under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, they were able to cycle the landing gear five times with no anomalies noted. The mechanic added that perhaps ice interfered with the left main landing gear, but he could not be sure. . ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8BZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8BZ), registered now, S/N 761, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CONSOLIDATED AERONAUTICS INC. LAKE LA-4-200 - Registry model: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-aeronautics-lake-la-4-200) (registry code 2400108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 761 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 2936 - Engines: Lycoming IO-390 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 2024, 73 hours before - Destination: EEN, Keene, NH - Airport: ORE, Orange Municipal Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,394 total, 251 in this make and model, 1,214 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: ORE - METAR: KORE 121352Z AUTO 31005KT 10SM FEW031 M04/M08 A2991 ## 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 20250112001749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250112001749A), Jan 12, 2025: Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200, Orange, MA, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] A lake amphibian model LA4-200, landed gear-up in the grass next to runway 32 due to a landing gear issue. The pilot stated he contacted… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199579. 840 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 375 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18235493&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18296674&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 400 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18235660&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.