# NTSB LAX97LA222: Piper PA-28R-201, N6471C, San Diego, CA, June 22, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 22, 1997, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.800022, -117.129486 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8000&lon=-117.1295&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29819 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29819/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA222 ## Probable cause the pilot-in-command's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall/mush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - fractured - landing gear,emergency extension assembly - entangled - landing gear,nose gear assembly - jammed - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - engine shutdown - intentional, pilot in command(cfi) - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command(cfi) - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis When the landing gear was selected down, only the main landing gear down indicator lights illuminated. The CFI reported that he made extensive attempts to extend the nose landing gear using both the normal and emergency procedures, however, each attempt was unsuccessful. The CFI further reported that while making his landing approach to the runway, he directed his student to turn the fuel selector to the off position. Simultaneously, the CFI moved the fuel mixture control to the idle-cutoff position as the aircraft was crossing the runway threshold. A videotape was taken by a witness to the accident sequence. Review of this tape disclosed that the aircraft made a near wings level, descending approach to the runway. At approximately 30 feet agl, the aircraft's nose oscillated up and down, followed quickly by the onset of a high vertical descent rate. At this point, the aircraft's stabilator was in what appeared to be an almost full nose up. The aircraft impacted the runway surface in a near level, slight right wing down attitude. Examination of the aircraft revealed that a nose gear down assist spring assembly had separated from an upper attach point on the strut and was tangled up in the strut support linkage, preventing the strut from free-falling to the down position. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 1997, at 1600 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201, N6471C, collided with the runway during a nose gear up landing at Montgomery Field, San Diego, California. The aircraft was operated as an instructional flight by California Wings of El Cajon, California. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The certified flight instructor received minor injuries and the certificated private pilot/student was not injured. The local area flight originated from Montgomery Field and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight instructor reported in his written report that he was working with a certificated private pilot in preparation for that pilot's commercial certificate check ride. While preparing to practice flying the aircraft at minimum controllable airspeed, the landing gear lever was placed in the down position; however, only the main landing gear "down" indicator lights illuminated. The CFI reported that he made extensive attempts to extend the nose landing gear, however, each attempt was unsuccessful. His attempts included both normal and emergency landing gear extension procedures. According to his estimate, the attempts to lower the landing gear took approximately 1 hour, including low approaches by the Montgomery tower to verify the condition of the nose wheel landing gear. The CFI further reported that while making his landing approach to the runway, he directed his student, who was sitting in the left front seat, to turn the fuel selector to the off position. Simultaneously, the flight instructor moved the fuel mixture control to the idle-cutoff position as the aircraft was crossing the runway threshold, in an attempt to prevent a post-touchdown fire from occurring. A videotape was taken by a witness to the accident sequence. Review of this tape disclosed that the aircraft made a near wings level, descending approach to the runway. At approximately 30 feet agl, the aircraft's nose oscillated up and down, followed quickly by the onset of a high vertical descent rate. At this point, the aircraft's stabilator was in what appeared to be an almost full nose up. The aircraft impacted the runway surface in a near level, slight right wing down attitude. Subsequent examination of the aircraft by an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector revealed that a nose gear "[gear down assist] spring assembly separated from [an] upper attach point on [the] strut and ... got tangled up in the strut support linkage and prevented the strut from free-falling [to the down position]." Additionally, the inspector reported that he found the "upper attach point for [the] 'assist spring' assembly broken across the middle of the hole where the spring went through." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6471C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6471C-2000-09-07), registration cancelled 2000-09-07, S/N 28R7837169 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7837169 - Airframe hours: 5390 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: California Wings Of El Cajon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 13, 1997, 23 hours before - Departed: MYF - Airport: MYF, Mongomery Field, runway 28R, 4,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 342 total, 21 in this make and model, 273 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MYF ## 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 19970622020079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970622020079A), Jun 22, 1997: Piper PA28R201, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. Unable extend nose gear. Landed nose gear up. Oscillated nose up and down on flare. Hit nose. Assist spring broke. 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.