# NTSB FTW92LA121: Piper PA-31-350, N140RD, Houston, TX, April 28, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 27, 1992, 22:00 local (Apr 28, 1992, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Location: 29.6458° N, 95.2772° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WILLIAM P HOBBY (HOU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6458&lon=-95.2772&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18484
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18484/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA121

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM SEAL AND THE SUBSEQUENT FLUID LEAK.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - hydraulic system,seal - failure,total (cause)
  - fluid,hydraulic - leak (cause)
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE TOWER A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEAR SYSTEM. A FLYOVER WAS PERFORMED AND A GEAR PROBLEM CONFIRMED. THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO FLY AROUND THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. UPON TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY 04, THE NOSE AND RIGHT LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WAS FOUND DEPLETED OF FLUID AND THE SEAL FOR THE EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENTION HAND PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N140RD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N140RD), registered now, S/N 31-7552051, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350
- Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7552051
- Airframe hours: 6000
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Winemiller, Eric W., doing business as Winemiller Aviation
- Registered owner: Winemiller, Eric W.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 1991, 85 hours before
- Departed: AMA, AMARILLO, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HOU, William P. Hobby, runway 4, 7,602 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19920427011999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920427011999A), Apr 27, 1992: Piper PA31350, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Gear problem. Right main and nose gear collapsed on landing. Emergency gear extension pump seal leaked out fluid.

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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