# NTSB FTW97LA192: Piper PA-28R-210T, N43761, Fort Collins, CO, May 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 15, 1997, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Fort Collins, CO - Coordinates: 40.550518, -105.059005 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5505&lon=-105.0590&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20221 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20221/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA192 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to know and follow the emergency procedure for extending the landing gear after loss of electrical power. Factors relating to the accident were: an inoperative alternator, inadequate maintenance by the operator, a depleted battery, and inadequate pilot check out in the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - electrical system,alternator - inoperative (contributing factor) - maintenance - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - electrical system,battery - discharged (contributing factor) - electrical system - inoperative (contributing factor) - Wheels up landing, landing - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - inadequate training (contributing factor) ## Analysis When the pilot attempted to start the engine of the airplane he had rented, he found that the battery strength was insufficient to effect a start, and auxiliary power was used. While en route, the battery became depleted, and there was a total loss of electrical power. The pilot elected to land the airplane at an intermediate airport. He waited until late in the approach to lower the landing gear, which was electric with electric powered indication and manual emergency features. The pilot was unaware of the emergency landing gear extension procedures and landed the airplane with the landing gear retracted. Investigation revealed the alternator was inoperative when the aircraft was rented. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 1997, at 0845 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-210T, N43761, operated by Altitudes Flight Training, Inc., as a rental, landed with the landing gear retracted at Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport, Fort Collins, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and a VFR flight plan, from Englewood, Colorado, to Torrington, Wyoming, was filed. The flight departed Centennial Airport in Englewood at 0815. According to the pilot, he rented the aircraft for the flight and the battery was too weak to conduct a start so the engine start was done using auxiliary power. The pilot said that after departure, when in the vicinity of Jefferson County Airport,(see attached map) he started to get a humming sound in his radios and could not contact Jefferson County Airport Tower. He related that he skirted the control zone and continued to fly in a northerly direction while attempting to find the problem with his radios. He then said he noticed that he had lost all electrical power. When he was flying over the Loveland-Fort Collins Airport, he said he smelled something that he interpreted to be a "hot or burning smell" and decided to land. He stated that he flew a pattern to assure "making" the runway and decided to put the landing gear down at the "last minute." A landing gear retracted landing occurred causing damage to the underside of the fuselage, inboard tips of both flaps, step, and propeller. Investigation revealed that the aircraft alternator was inoperative at the time the aircraft departed on the flight. With the alternator inoperative all electrical power was supplied by the battery and when the battery was depleted, no electric power was available. The landing gear was electric powered as were the landing gear indicators. According to the aircraft flight manual, (applicable pages attached) when a total electrical failure occurs, the landing gear must be lowered using the emergency extension feature and check list. According to the pilot, he was unaware of the emergency extension feature and was not briefed or given a check in the aircraft by the operator. The pilot operator report provided information that the pilot had accumulated 14 hours in this make and model aircraft, but had not flown it in the preceding 30 days and had flown only 2 hours in this make and model in the preceding 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43761](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43761), registered now, S/N 28R-7703310, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-210T (PA-28R-210) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7703310 - Airframe hours: 5036 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-F 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Altitudes Flight Training, Inc - Registered owner: Lawrence W. Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 1997, 23 hours before - Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO - Destination: TOR, TORRINGTON, WY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: FNL, Loveland-Fort Collins, runway 33, 8,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 532 total, 13 in this make and model, 433 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FNL, 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 19970515010789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970515010789A), May 15, 1997: Piper PA28R201T, Fort Collins, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft developed electrical problems, diverted, and landed gear up. 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.