# NTSB FTW95LA212: Piper PA-23-160, N3245P, Owasso, OK, May 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 1995, 19:10 local (May 20, 1995, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Owasso, OK - Coordinates: 36.279697, -95.830131 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2797&lon=-95.8301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19430 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19430/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA212 ## Probable cause THE FAILURES OF THE LANDING GEAR HYDRAULIC PUMP AND THE EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM AS RESULT OF INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - hydraulic system,pump - failure (cause) - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - landing gear,emergency extension assembly - failure (cause) - Wheels up landing, landing - landing gear,nose gear ## Analysis FOLLOWING TAKEOFF THE PILOT RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR AND IT APPEARED TO THE PASSENGER THAT THE GEAR CAME UP SLOWLY. THE PILOT RECYCLED THE LANDING GEAR SEVERAL TIMES AND REPORTED THAT HE SMELT HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT TO CHECK THE LANDING GEAR. DURING THE APPROACH HE LOWERED THE GEAR; HOWEVER, ONLY THE MAIN GEARS EXTENDED. THE PILOT MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO LOWER THE NOSE GEAR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON A GRASS AREA ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY WITH THE NOSE RETRACTED AND THE MAIN GEAR EXTENDED. AN INSPECTION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED THE LACK OF HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE SYSTEM AND DAMAGE TO THE PUMP. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 1995, at 1910 central daylight time, a Piper PA-23-160, N3245P, was substantially damaged during landing near Owasso, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The personal flight originated at Gundys Airport at Owasso, Oklahoma, at 1845. In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he retracted the landing gear shortly after takeoff, the passenger commented on how the gear "seemed to retract very slowly." The pilot proceeded to cycle the gear several times and "distinctly remembers smelling hydraulic fluid." He further reported that he elected to return to the airport to land, but when he placed the gear selector in the down position, he "got red lights." He proceeded to "engage the blow-down bottle and observed green lights for the main gear only." The pilot further stated that for the next 20 to 30 minutes, he attempted to extend the nose gear by gravity, to no avail. The pilot elected to land on the grass area adjacent to the runway with the main gears extended and the nose gear unlocked. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down on the main landing gear and as speed decreased the nose lowered to ground contact. The airplane slid for 261 feet before coming to a stop. During an examination of the aircraft the FAA inspector noted that the hydraulic pump was damaged and that there was no evidence of hydraulic fluid in the system. An inspection of the aircraft logbooks by the FAA inspector revealed "recurring hydraulic system maintenance." On May 4, 1994, the hydraulic pump was repaired and on October 9, 1993, the hydraulic power pack was re-built. Numerous attempts to have the pilot/operator complete the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 were unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3245P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3245P-2013-06-04), registration cancelled 2013-06-04, S/N 23-1190, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-160) (registry code 7102304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23-1190 - Airframe hours: 4510 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B3B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James D. Labenz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1994, 23 hours before - Departed: OK16 - Airport: OK16, Gundys, runway 17, 1,890 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,450 total, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TUL, 12 nm away ## 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 19950519013859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950519013859A), May 19, 1995: Piper PA23160, Owasso, OK, Substantial damage. Gear slow retracting on climbout. Unable lock down. Used bottle. Nose gear still up. Hydraulic fluid depleted. 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.