# NTSB LAX08LA080: Piper PA-31-350, N4098A, Portland, OR, March 20, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 2008, 10:26 local (17:26 UTC) - Place: Portland, OR - Coordinates: 45.588611, -122.607498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5886&lon=-122.6075&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administraion - NTSB case key (mKey): 67703 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67703/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA080 ## Probable cause The failure of company maintenance personnel to install the upper pivot bolt through the pivot hole in the upper end of the landing gear actuating rod, and the company maintenance inspector's inadequate inspection of the work performed. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative; cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) - [Inspection: post maintenance inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061515/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that when he was preparing to land at his destination, he found that the right main landing gear failed to extend. The pilot diverted back to the originating airport. Maintenance personnel discussed the problem with the pilot and various remedial actions were tried without success. The pilot declared an emergency, and landed with the right main gear retracted. During the recovery efforts, the airplane was jacked up in order to extend the right main landing gear, which locked in place. The airplane was then towed to a hangar. Examination revealed that the upper pivot bolt had not been installed through the pivot hole in the upper end of the actuating rod during recent maintenance. The mechanic who did the repair and the inspector who signed off the repair did not detect the discrepancy. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 2008, about 1026 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N4098A, landed with the right main landing gear retracted at Portland International Airport, Portland, Oregon. Ameriflight LLC was operating the airplane, owned by UAS Transervices, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aileron. The cross-country cargo flight departed Portland en route to Roseburg, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. The pilot was preparing to land at Roseburg when he noted that the right main landing gear failed to extend, which ground personnel confirmed during a flyby. The pilot diverted back to Portland. Ameriflight personnel alerted the tower at Portland that the airplane was returning, and would make an emergency landing with one main wheel retracted. Maintenance personnel discussed the problem with the pilot; he tried various remedial actions without success. A flyby confirmed that the wheel remained retracted. The pilot declared an emergency, and landed; there was no fire, and no injuries. The right propeller, right flap, right wing outboard of wing station 190, and right aileron sustained damage. During the recovery efforts, the airplane was jacked up in order to extend the right main landing gear, which locked in place. The airplane was then towed to a hangar. Examination revealed that the upper pivot bolt had not been installed through the pivot hole in the upper end of the actuating rod during recent maintenance. The mechanic who did the repair and the inspector who signed off the repair did not detect the discrepancy. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4098A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4098A), registered now, S/N 31-8152200, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-8152200 - Airframe hours: 16547 - Engines: Lycoming TSIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming TSIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Ameriflight LLC - Registered owner: UAS Transervices, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 1, 2008, 3 hours before - Departed: PDX, Portland, OR - Destination: RBG, Roseburg, OR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PDX, Portland, runway 03, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review January 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,375 as pilot in command, 280 in the last 90 days, 110 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: PDX ## 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 20080320012679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080320012679A), Mar 20, 2008: Piper PA31350, Portland, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 20, 2008, about 1030 pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N4098A could not get a down confirmation on the right main gear. The aircraft is… ## Other investigations on N4098A (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX90LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA036), Oct 25, 1989: Piper PA-31-350 (N4098A), Ontario, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES BY THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-31. 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.