# NTSB LAX08IA093: Bennett Lancair 320, N456, Hillsboro, OR, April 2, 2008

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 2, 2008, 14:23 local (21:23 UTC)
- Place: Hillsboro, OR
- Coordinates: 45.428611, -122.942222
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4286&lon=-122.9422&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67783
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08IA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67783/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08IA093

## Probable cause

The malfunction of the airplane's battery and alternator that resulted in the failure of the landing gear to extend and lock in place.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Electrical power system: battery/charger](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022432): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Bennett James G LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022432/cases.md?model=05616XP), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022432/cases.md)
- [Electrical power system: alternator-generator drive sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Bennett James G LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410/cases.md?model=05616XP), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022410/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative; cases with it: [Bennett James G LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=05616XP), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Bennett James G LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=05616XP), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Bennett James G LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05616XP), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Bennett James G LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05616XP), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bennett James G LANCAIR 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05616XP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While in cruise flight, the airplane lost electrical power. The pilot went through emergency procedures to conserve electrical power, and returned to the airport. He attempted to extend the electrically operated landing gear, but only heard the right main gear come down and lock. There was no emergency gear extension system available on the airplane. Air traffic controllers in the airport tower later confirmed that the gear did not appear to be in the normal down and locked position. The pilot landed on runway 30, the nose and left main gear collapsed, and the right main gear snapped off. The airplane went off the left side of the runway onto the grass, shearing off an intersection marker and causing substantial damage to the wing spar. Postaccident examination revealed that the battery had a dead cell, and the alternator had several discrepancies.

## Factual narrative

**This report was modified on 10/28/2014. Please see the public docket for this accident to view the original report.**On April 2, 2008, about 1423 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Bennett Lancair 320, N456, landed with the nose gear and left main landing gear retracted at Portland-Hillsboro Airport, Portland, Oregon. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certificated private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained damage to the wing spar that was determined not to be substantial. The local personal instructional flight departed Hillsboro at 1300. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot stated that while in cruise flight, the airplane lost electrical power. The pilot immediately turned off the radios and intercom in order to try to save electrical power. He also went through emergency procedures for a loss of electrical power. The pilot flew back to the Hillsboro airport through Columbia Gorge in case he had to make an emergency landing.

The pilot attempted to bring the gear down, but only heard the right main gear go down and lock. The left main gear and the nose gear did not seem to go down. The pilot stated that he went through the emergency checklist, but there is no emergency gear extension system installed on the airplane. He returned to the Hillsboro area, and received a green light-gun signal to land from the local tower. While landing, the landing gear collapsed about 500 or 600 feet down runway 30. The airplane skidded and the right main gear snapped off. The airplane went off the left side of the runway onto the grass, shearing off an intersection marker.

The pilot reported that after the occurrence, tower personnel told him that when he had flown by, the gear "did not look good." Several times during the flight the pilot checked and did not see any blown fuses. He had pulled a fuse himself and then reset it in order to "relieve pressure from the system."

After the occurrence, the pilot tested the battery and found that it had a dead cell. He also found discrepancies with the alternator. He found no anomalies within the wiring or fuses.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N456](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N456-2026-06-06), registration cancelled 2026-06-06, S/N 5 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bennett Lancair 320
- Registry model: [Bennett James G LANCAIR 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/bennett-james-g-lancair-320) (registry code 05616XP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 5
- Engines: Lycoming 0-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2007
- Departed: HIO, Hillsboro, OR
- Airport: HIO, Portland-Hillsboro, runway 30, 6,600 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 300 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: HIO

## 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 20080402012689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080402012689A), Apr 2, 2008: Amtr LANCAIR320, Portland, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) Approximately one hour into flight during cruise pilot noticed GPS had lost power. Pilot cycled GPS power button and GPS turned on. 5-10 minutes later…

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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