# NTSB LAX03LA196: Piper PA-46-310P, N189ET, Grand Canyon, AZ, April 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 2003, 12:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Grand Canyon, AZ - Coordinates: 35.95222, -112.146942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9522&lon=-112.1469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57239 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA196 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57239/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA196 ## Probable cause The out of rig condition of the landing gear control linkages, which prevented the on-ground antiretraction safety device from working. Also causal was the pilot's inadvertent movement of the gear selector to the up position while taxiing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear retraction on ground, taxi - from landing - maintenance,adjustment - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - safety system(other) - inoperative (cause) - gear retraction - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot inadvertently raised the landing gear lever during taxi. The pilot reported that while taxiing after a good approach and landing, he raised the flaps, lowered the speed brakes, turned off the landing lights, and switched off the transponder. After the lever was raised, both the nose and right main landing gear collapsed immediately. The airplane came to rest on the left main gear, nose, and right wing. The systems description section of the Federal Aviation Administration approved Pilot Operating Handbook for the airplane was reviewed concerning the landing gear operating system. The cockpit control lever is mechanically linked to the hydraulic sequence valve, which is aft of the rear baggage compartment. A spring loaded electrically operated solenoid gate physically prevents the landing gear handle from being moved out of the down detent when weight is on the landing gear. The solenoid is energized to retract and allow the cockpit gear handle to move when a squat switch on the left main gear strut senses strut extension (liftoff). After the accident, and during repair of the airplane, the landing gear system was examined by Hov-Air, Inc., a maintenance repair facility familiar with the PA-46. The repair shop found that the cockpit gear handle and its linkage (to the hydraulic sequence valve) was out of rigging tolerance. Specifically, the rigging would not allow the gear selector lever handle to be in the full down position where the solenoid gate would block handle movement. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 2003, about 1225 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-46-310P, N189ET, sustained substantial damage when the landing gear was inadvertently retracted while taxiing at Grand Canyon National Park (GCN), Grand Canyon, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The personal cross-country flight departed San Diego, California, about 1000 Pacific standard time, en route to Grand Canyon. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that while taxiing after a good approach and landing, he raised the flaps, lowered the speed brakes, turned off the landing lights, and switched off the transponder. The landing gear lever was inadvertently raised. Both the nose and right main landing gear collapsed immediately. The airplane came to rest on the left main gear, nose, and right wing. The systems description section of the Federal Aviation Administration approved Pilot Operating Handbook for the airplane was reviewed concerning the landing gear operating system. The cockpit control lever is mechanically linked to the hydraulic sequence valve, which is aft of the rear baggage compartment. A spring loaded electrically operated solenoid gate physically prevents the landing gear handle from being moved out of the down detent when weight is on the landing gear. The solenoid is energized to retract and allow the cockpit gear handle to move when a squat switch on the left main gear strut senses strut extension (liftoff). After the accident, and during repair of the airplane, the landing gear system was examined by Hov-Air, Inc., a maintenance repair facility familiar with the PA-46. The repair shop found that the cockpit gear handle and its linkage (to the hydraulic sequence valve) was out of rigging tolerance. Specifically, the rigging would not allow the gear selector lever handle to be in the full down position where the solenoid gate would block handle movement. ## Aircraft - Registration: N189ET (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-46-310P - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 46-8408026 - Airframe hours: 3000 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520BE 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James Allen - Registered owner: Cartwright Aerial Survey Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 31, 2003, 34 hours before - Departed: MYF, San Diego, CA - Destination: GCN, Grand Canyon, AZ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: GCN, Grand Canyon National Park Air, runway 21, 8,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 22, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,340 total, 225 in this make and model, 1,340 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 21 knots, gusting 29 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: GCN ## 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 20030426005409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030426005409A), Apr 26, 2003: Piper PA46310P, Grand Canyon, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Spoke to pilot Mr. James allen, he stated that upon landing roll, the aircraft was just above taxi speed and for some reason Mr. Allen selected the… 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.