MIA01LA088

NTSB accident investigation · Temco GC-1B · Sanford, NC · March 1, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 1, 2001, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
Place
Sanford, NC
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N3310KTemco GC-1B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 23, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20010301003129A
Case key
51840

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane after the second touchdown following a bounced landing resulting in collapse of all landing gears.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Complete gear collapsedLanding - roll

Analysis

The pilot stated to an FAA inspector that she landed on the first 1,000 feet of the 6,500 foot-long runway. After touchdown, she felt that something wasn't correct with the right main landing gear and intentionally lifted off from the runway. She applied power to go around, then realized there was 4,000 feet of runway remaining. She landed again, this time approximately 1/3 to 1/2 down the runway. After touchdown, the airplane departed the left side of the runway onto grass collapsing both main landing gears. A witness reported seeing the airplane on final approach to runway 03 when the airplane was about 30 feet above ground level. The airplane was observed to land hard then bounced about the wingspan height above the ground. Engine power was heard to be applied and the airplane was observed in a steep climb. The witness did not observe the accident. Postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed damage to the firewall. Wrinkles were noted in the left side of the fuselage aft of the firewall and also on the right side of the fuselage approximately 3 feet aft of the firewall. There was no evidence of contact with the right main landing gear or of the right wingtip with the runway. Coarse scratches were noted on the bottom of the left wing tip. According to the inspector, both main landing gears were down and locked when examined following recovery of the airplane. According to the person who purchased the airplane, the engine mount was broken. The gear box was intact and the retract mechanism was OK. A record of conversation form is an attachment to this report.

Factual narrative

On March 1, 2001, about 1830 eastern standard time, a Temco GC-1B, N3301K, "registration pending", experienced collapse of both main landing gears while landing at the Sanford-Lee County Regional Airport, Sanford, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1615 from the Hummel Field Airport, Saluda, Virginia.

The pilot stated to an FAA inspector that she landed on the first 1,000 feet of the 6,500 foot-long runway. After touchdown, she felt that something wasn't correct with the right main landing gear and intentionally lifted off from the runway. She applied power to go around, then realized there was 4,000 feet of runway remaining. She landed again, this time approximately 1/3 to 1/2 down the runway. After touchdown, the airplane departed the left side of the runway onto grass collapsing both main landing gears.

A witness reported seeing the airplane on final approach to runway 03 when the airplane was about 30 feet above ground level. The airplane was observed to land hard then bounced about the wingspan height above the ground. Engine power was heard to be applied and the airplane was observed in a steep climb. The witness did not observe the accident. A copy of the witness statement is an attachment to this report.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed damage to the firewall. Wrinkles were noted in the left side of the fuselage aft of the firewall and also on the right side of the fuselage approximately 3 feet aft of the firewall. There was no evidence of contact with the right main landing gear or of the right wingtip with the runway. Coarse scratches were noted on the bottom of the left wing tip. According to the inspector, both main landing gears were down and locked when examined following recovery of the airplane.

According to the person who purchased the airplane, the engine mount was broken. The gear box was intact and the retract mechanism was OK. A record of conversation form is an attachment to this report.

Aircraft

Registration
N3310K
Reported as
Temco GC-1B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
3013
Airframe hours
3,261
Engine
Lycoming O-360-A1F6, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Leo Ford-Barber
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 24, 2000 · 71 hours before
Departed
W75 · Saluda, VA
Destination
KTTA · Sanford, NC
Airport
KTTA · Sanford-Lee County Regional, runway 03, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
February 28, 2000
Seat
Left
Flight hours
4,300 total · 45 in this make and model · 4,100 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
260° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
52 °F, dew point 23 °F
Altimeter
29.85 inHg
Observed at
RDU, 34 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.