# NTSB LAX07CA255: Beech D55, N7947R, Heber, UT, August 17, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 16, 2007, 19:50 local (Aug 17, 2007, 01:50 UTC)
- Place: Heber, UT
- Coordinates: 40.430683, -111.19062 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4307&lon=-111.1906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA255
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66542/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA255

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to lower the landing gear during landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Wheels up landing, landing
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

During landing the pilot did not extend the landing gear and the airplane contacted the runway and slid about 500 feet.  Witnesses in the area watched as the airplane made the approach and subsequently landed gear up.  A post accident examination of the airplane's landing gear system by the FAA revealed no abnormalities that would have precluded normal operations.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the approach to land he remembered lowering the landing gear and hearing a change in the "wind noise."  He thought he had a green light indication; however, he stated that the way the sun was it could have been a reflection.  A witness and his wife who were driving near the airport saw the airplane on short final without the landing gear extended.  They both watched as the airplane landed on the runway without extending the landing gear.  The airplane slid about 500 feet down the runway.  The police officer who responded to the accident observed two sets of propeller striations on the runway.  The officer documented the marks with digital photographs.

The FAA examined the airplane after the accident at a local FBO.  During the examination the FAA was able to extend the landing gear by use of the landing gear selector switch.  The main landing gear operated normally; the nose gear did not extend due to a broken connecting rod.  The FAA inspector reported that the broken connecting rod was as a result of the accident sequence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7947R (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Beech D55
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-705
- Airframe hours: 3449.8
- Engines: Continental IO-520-CB 285 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-520CB-3B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007, 3,449.8 hours before
- Departed: SAC, Sacramento, CA
- Destination: 36U, Heber, UT
- Airport: 36U, Heber City Municipal Airport, runway 21, 6,898 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 150° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: PVU, 20 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 20070816018199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070816018199A), Aug 16, 2007: Beech D55, Heber, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 16, 2007 at 2000 LCL time, the pilot [privacy data omitted] landed at the Heber city municipal airport (36U) in Heber, UT without the landing…

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.

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