# NTSB LAX85LA064: Beech B-60, N6023S, Van Nuys, CA, December 9, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 9, 1984, 13:07 local (21:07 UTC)
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Coordinates: 34.189476, -118.489814 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1895&lon=-118.4898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24608
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24608/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA064

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - buckled
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - failure,partial
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - improper
  - landing gear,gear switch - deployed inadvertently
  - maintenance,adjustment - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - object - runway light

## Analysis

DURING LANDING ROLL OUT THE PLT OBSERVED THE ACFT'S NOSE GEAR BEGIN TO COLLAPSE. ALTHOUGH ON APPROACH THE PLT HAD PLACED THE LDG GEAR SELECTOR IN THE DOWN POSITION & HAD OBSERVED THE ILLUMINATION OF THE GREEN GEAR DOWN LIGHTS, THE PLT RESPONDED TO THE SITUATION OF A COLLAPSING NOSE GEAR BY RECYCLING THE GEAR SELECTOR. THIS ACTION ENERGIZED THE GEAR MOTOR AND THE MAINS RETRACTED. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY AND OVERRAN A SIGN AND TWO RUNWAY LIGHTS WHICH COLLISION SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE ACFT. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE NOSE GEAR RETRACTION LINK LOCK WASHER TAB HAD BROKEN. THE ASSOCIATED ADJUSTING NUT HAD BACKED OFF REDUCING TENSION TO THE NOSE GEAR DOWN SPRING THUS ALLOWING THE NOSE GEAR TO COLLAPSE. ALSO, THE MAIN GEAR SAFETY SWITCH WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT SUCH THAT THE GEAR COULD BE COMMANDED TO RETRACT WITH MORE WEIGHT ON THE WHEELS THAN NORMAL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6023S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B-60
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P-354
- Airframe hours: 1150
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-541-E1C4 380 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jack Rouse And Son
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 31, 1984
- Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA
- Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Airport: VNY, Van Nuys, runway 16R, 8,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 3,800 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VNY

## 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 19841209065859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841209065859A), Dec 9, 1984: Beech B60, Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. Nose gear collapsed due to broken retract link locking tab washer. Safety switch on mains improperly adjusted.

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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