# NTSB FTW82DA254: Downer Aircraft Industries Republic RC-3, N6441K, Llano, TX, June 26, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1982, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Llano, TX
- Coordinates: 29.990158, -97.870491 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9902&lon=-97.8705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71459
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82DA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71459/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA254

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,total (cause)
  - gear extension - not possible, pilot in command
  - gear retraction - not possible, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels down landing in water - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ON A TEST FLIGHT TO CHECK THE ENGINE IN THE AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFT. AS THE LANDING GEAR WAS BEING LOWERED TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT, A "POP" WAS HEARD. REPORTEDLY, THE NOISE OCCURRED WHEN THE CLEVIS ON THE ROD END OF THE RETRACT/EXTEND CYLINDER FAILED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT OR EXTEND, BUT WAS SWINGING FREELY IN A TRAIL POSITION. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A WATER LANDING. THINKING THE GEAR WOULD TRAIL BEHIND. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON ITS FIRST TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WHEELS WERE KNOCKED BACK HARD, THEN BOUNCED FULLY FORWARD AND LOCKED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED FORWARD ONTO ITS BACK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6441K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6441K-2022-12-27), registration cancelled 2022-12-27, S/N 691, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Downer Aircraft Industries REPUBLIC RC-3 (REPUBLIC R)
- Registry model: [Downer REPUBLIC RC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/downer-republic-rc-3) (registry code 3080204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Franklin 6A8 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a8-series) (registry code 27030, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 691
- Airframe hours: 700
- Engines: FRANKLIN 6A 215 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: David C. Herr
- Registered owner: David C. Herr
- Departed: LLANO, TX
- Destination: LLANO, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 18,550 total, 13 in this make and model, 17,932 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 19820626051399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820626051399A), Jun 26, 1982: Stolam RC3, Plano, TX, Substantial damage. Landing gear in trail position, pilot attempted water landing resulting in aircraft flipping inverted.

## Other investigations on N6441K (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW91LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91LA101), Jun 19, 1991: Republic RC-3 (N6441K), Kingsland, TX, minor damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPEREINCE IN SEAPLANES.

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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