# NTSB FTW02LA074: Beech 58, N8117V, Farmington, NM, October 26, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 26, 2001, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Farmington, NM - Coordinates: 36.474998, -108.796669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4750&lon=-108.7967&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administartion (FSDO) - NTSB case key (mKey): 54096 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54096/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA074 ## Probable cause The failure of the nose gear actuator retract arm due to fatigue. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise - landing gear,nose gear assembly - fatigue (cause) - landing gear,nose gear assembly - failure (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - gear down and locked - not possible ## Analysis The pilot stated that as the gear was retracted, following a low approach, a "loud bang or clank," was heard. The landing gear in-transit light remained illuminated and the flight proceeded to a practice area where the pilots consulted with the flight school's maintenance personnel via radio. Attempts to correct the gear problem were unsuccessful. The flight then returned to the airport and executed a low pass near the air traffic control tower (ATCT). ATCT personnel reported that both main landing gear appeared down and locked, but the nose landing gear appeared to be partially extended. Subsequently, the airplane landed, and when the nose gear made ground contact, it collapsed. Post landing examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear actuator retract arm had fractured and was in two pieces. The nose gear actuator retract arm was examined at the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C. It was determined that the retract arm fractured as a result of fatigue cracking that initiated at multiple origins along machining marks on the upper surface of the fracture. ## Factual narrative On October 26, 2001, at 1530 mountain standard time, a Beech 58 twin-engine airplane, N8117V, was substantially damaged when the nose landing gear collapsed while landing at the Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN), Farmington, New Mexico. The airplane was registered to and operated by San Juan Pilot Training Inc., of Farmington, New Mexico, doing business as Mesa Pilot Development Center. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and commercial pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight had originated from FMN at 1400. According to the flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction, they executed a low approach to runway 07 at FMN and initiated a go-around. A climb was initiated and when the gear was retracted a "loud bang or clank," was heard. The landing gear in-transit light remained illuminated and the flight proceeded to a practice area where the pilots consulted with the flight school's maintenance personnel via radio. Subsequently, the pilots performed the manual gear extension procedures, which resulted in two green lights for the main landing gear; however, the landing gear in-transit light remained illuminated and there was no green light for the nose landing gear. They pushed the annunciator test button to ensure that the cockpit nose gear light bulb was operational, and it illuminated. The flight then returned to FMN and executed a low pass near the air traffic control tower (ATCT). ATCT personnel reported that both main landing gear appeared down and locked, but the nose landing gear appeared to be partially extended. Subsequently, the airplane landed on runway 11, and when the nose gear made ground contact, it collapsed. The airplane was examined by an FAA inspector and it was discovered that the nose gear actuator retract arm (part number 104-820050-3) had fractured and was in two pieces. According to a repair facility, bulkheads in the nose structure of the airplane were structurally damaged and required replacement. The nose gear actuator retract arm was examined at the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C. The upper portion of the retract arm displayed two separate areas (upper left and upper right), with surface features that are consistent with fatigue. The upper fracture surface was examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The fractured surface exhibited a fatigue striation pattern that emanated from multiple origins that were oriented along machining marks on its upper edge. The lower portion of the retract arm also displayed features consistent with fatigue. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8117V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8117V-2010-08-30), registration cancelled 2010-08-30, S/N TH-1628, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 58 - Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TH-1628 - Airframe hours: 9842.6 - Engines: Continental IO-550-C 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: San Juan Pilot Training Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 23, 2001, 11.8 hours before - Departed: FMN, Farmington, NM - Destination: FMN - Airport: FMN, Four Corners Regional, runway 11, 2,783 × 100 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,957 total, 150 in this make and model, 1,837 as pilot in command - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 6, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 291 total, 24 in this make and model, 192 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: FMN ## 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 20011026036889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011026036889A), Oct 26, 2001: Beech 58, Farmington, NM, Substantial damage. (.19) On October 26, 2001, at 1628 central standard time, a Beech 58 multi-engine airplane, N8117V was substantially damaged during an emergency landing… 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.