# NTSB GAA17CA109: Piper PA28R, N55484, Kewanee, IL, December 16, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 16, 2016, 13:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Kewanee, IL - Coordinates: 41.204166, -89.970275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2042&lon=-89.9703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94581 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94581/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94581 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA109 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear during the approach to land. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, en route on an instrument flight rules flight plan in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), the airplane began accumulating ice, and shortly thereafter, he requested a "precautionary diversion" to the nearest airport to land. The pilot further reported that he exited IMC about 1,642 ft above ground level and circled over the diversion airport for landing. He reported that he had kept the flaps and landing gear retracted "to not adversely affect lift" and forgot to extend the landing gear before landing. However, when the airplane was over the runway threshold he reduced power, which caused the auto-extend function of the landing gear system to attempt to extend the landing gear. During the landing roll, the right main and nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane gradually slid off the runway to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. In the Procedures section of the Piper Arrow II Pilot's Operating Manual, it states in part: Some aircraft are equipped with an airspeed-power sensing system (backup gear extender) which extends the landing gear under low airspeed-power conditions even though the pilot may not have selected gear down. For normal operation, the pilot should extend and retract the gear with the gear selector switch located on the instrument panel, just as he would if the backup gear extender system were not installed. The manual also states: The red gear warning light on the instrument panel and the horn operate simultaneously when: On aircraft equipped with the backup gear extender, when the system has lowered the landing gear and the gear selector switch is not in the down position and the throttle is not full open. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that en route on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) the airplane began accumulating ice and shortly thereafter, he requested a "precautionary diversion" to the nearest airport to land. The pilot further reported that he exited IMC about 1,642 feet above ground level (agl) and circled over the diversion airport for landing. He reported that he had kept the flaps and landing gear retracted "to not adversely affect lift" and forgot to extend the landing gear prior to landing. However, when the airplane was over the runway threshold he reduced power, which caused the auto-extend function of the landing gear system to attempt to extend the landing gear. During the landing roll, the right main and nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane gradually slid off the runway to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. In the Procedures section of the Piper Arrow II Pilot's Operating Manual, it states in part: Some aircraft are equipped with an airspeed-power sensing system (backup gear extender) which extends the landing gear under low airspeed-power conditions even though the pilot may not have selected gear down. For normal operation, the pilot should extend and retract the gear with the gear selector switch located on the instrument panel, just as he would if the backup gear extender system were not installed. The manual also states: The red gear warning light on the instrument panel and the horn operate simultaneously when: On aircraft equipped with the backup gear extender, when the system has lowered the landing gear and the gear selector switch is not in the down position and the throttle is not full open. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55484](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55484), registered now, S/N 28R-7335241, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R (200) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7335241 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 3291.19 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 2016 - Departed: DVN, DAVENPORT, IA - Destination: LUK, CINCINNATI, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: EZI, Kewanee Muni, runway 09, 4,500 × 75 ft, snow - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 19, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 630 total, 316 in this make and model, 620 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast - Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Icing: Mixed - Observed at: KGBG, 27 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 20161216022089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161216022089A), Dec 16, 2016: Piper PA-28R-200, Kewanee, IL, Substantial damage. On December 16, 2016, the pilot-in-command (PIC) and one passenger departed davenport municipal airport (kdvn), in Iowa enroute to cincinnati municipal… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 21, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94581. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455959&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449422&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 456 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Arrow II POM Procedures (item 4, .PDF, 700 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449425&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Arrow%20II%20POM%20Procedures-Master.PDF 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.