# NTSB FTW95LA355: Piper PA-32R-300, N47423, Fayetteville, AR, August 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 1995, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Fayetteville, AR - Location: 36.0051° N, 94.1701° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DRAKE FLD (FYV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0051&lon=-94.1701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19549 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA355 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19549/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA355 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR DUE TO THE FAILURE OF AN EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION VALVE. ## 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 - inoperative (cause) - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command - landing gear,emergency extension assembly - failure (cause) - gear extension - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - Wheels up landing, emergency landing ## Analysis THE PILOT RECEIVED AN UNSAFE GEAR INDICATION WHEN HE EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION FOLLOWING A 4 HOUR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT CONFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS UNLOCKED AND PARTIALLY EXTENDED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXTEND THE GEAR BY FOLLOWING THE EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION PROCEDURES TO NO AVAIL. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON THE GRASS TO THE EAST OF THE ACTIVE RUNWAY WITH THE NOSE GEAR AND LEFT MAIN GEAR EXTENDED AND THE RIGHT GEAR PARTIALLY EXTENDED. AFTER TOUCHING DOWN ON THE LOCKED GEARS, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED AND SKIDDED FOR 1,300 FEET PRIOR TO COMING TO A STOP. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR FAILED TO FULLY EXTEND AND LOCK. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION VALVE MALFUNCTIONED. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 1995, at 1640 central daylight time (all times in this report are central daylight time unless otherwise noted) a Piper PA-32R-300, N47423, sustained substantial damage following a gear up landing at Drake Field, near Fayetteville, Arkansas. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Panama City, Florida, at 1230. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight for which a VFR flight plan was filed. According to witnesses at the airport, the pilot received an unsafe gear indication when he lowered the landing gear for landing. The pilot stated that he followed the emergency gear extension procedures but was unable to lower the right main landing gear. Witnesses observed the airplane perform a tower fly-by and low passes over the runway. The pilot elected to land on the grass to the east of the active runway with the nose and left main gear extended and the right main landing gear unlocked and partially extended. According to witnesses and passengers aboard the airplane, the airplane touched down on the locked gears and the pilot managed to keep the right gear and wing off the ground until the airplane slowed down. The pilot estimated that the airplane "rolled and skidded for approximately 1,300 feet" prior to coming to a stop. Post accident examination of the landing gear system by the owner's aircraft mechanic revealed that the failure of the right main landing gear to extend and lock was the result of the failure of the emergency gear extension valve (part number 67522-002). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47423](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47423), registered now, S/N 32R-7880006, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7880006 - Airframe hours: 1410 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Homer L. Fleeman Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1995, 50 hours before - Departed: PFN, PANAMA CITY, FL - Destination: FYV - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FYV, Drake Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,455 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FYV, 1 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 19950819048869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950819048869A), Aug 19, 1995: Piper PA32R300, Fayetteville, AR, Substantial damage. (-16) When the private pilot selected gear down, the nose gear and left main gear came down and locked. The fuse popped before the right main gear locked down.… 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.