# NTSB MIA04LA062: Beech BE90, N11FL, Fort Lauderdale, FL, March 13, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 2004, 04:50 local (09:50 UTC) - Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL - Coordinates: 26.18943, -80.170845 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1894&lon=-80.1708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA / Fort Lauderdale FSDO-17 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58924 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58924/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA062 ## Probable cause The inadequate inspection of the landing gear system by company maintenance personnel resulting in a crack in the left main landing actuator mount going undetected and collapse of the left landing gear during landing roll when the actuator attachment failed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - landing gear,main gear attachment - cracked - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause) - landing gear,main gear attachment - failure - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot stated, during the approach to the airport he selected the landing gear to the down position. He observed two green lights and the light for the left landing gear was off on the landing gear indication. He informed the tower of the situation and cycled the gear with no change to the indication. He advised the tower he would like to perform a fly-by to have a visual check of the landing gear. The tower approved the low approach. The pilot cycled the landing gear one more time and got three green lights on the landing gear indication. The tower informed the pilot the gear appeared to be down and in place. The pilot requested and received clearance to land on runway 13. The accident airplane landed and rolled approximately 2,000 feet on the runway before the left main landing gear collapsed. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident site stated, the left main gear assembly was found retracted and up into the engine nacelle. The lock down assembly was unlocked and undamaged. The left main landing gear torque link was broken and the left landing gear actuator gearbox assembly was detached from its mount box. The investigating FAA inspector stated, at the time of the accident the accident airplane had accumulated about 148 hours since its last maintenance inspections, on January 3, 2004. That inspection included checking the actuator support brackets for visible damage, wear, cracks, loose or missing rivets. An examination of the fractured left gear actuator support box structure brackets revealed a crack that circumscribes the lower hi-shear rivet holes of the outboard bracket. The operator of the accident airplane stated, during damage assessment, a structural failure of the left main landing gear actuator support box structure was discovered. They suspected the structure had at least one existing crack which allowed the actuator to "float" within the support structure not allowing complete spring compression from the actuator to engage the left main landing gear drag leg hooks. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 2004, about 0450 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE90, N11FL, registered to Core Investments Inc. and operated by Execstar Aviation, as a Title 14 CFR Part 135 on demand air taxi flight, experienced a collapse of the left main landing gear during the landing roll at Fort Lauderdale International Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rule flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot and the six passengers were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Cancun International Airport, Cancun, Mexico, earlier that day, about 0100. The pilot stated, during the approach to the airport he selected the landing gear handle to the down position. He observed two green lights and the light for the left landing gear was off on the landing gear indication. He reduced engine power and heard the landing gear warning horn and elected to abort the landing. He informed the tower of the situation and recycled the landing gear. The landing gear indication did not change. He advised the tower he would like to perform a fly-by to have a visual check of the gear. The tower advised the pilot to perform a low approach south of the tower to observe the landing gear position. The pilot cycled the landing gear one more time and got three green lights on the landing gear indication. The tower informed the pilot the gear appeared to be down and in place, and asked the pilot to state his intentions. The pilot than requested a landing clearance. At which time, the tower cleared the pilot to land on runway 13 and called Airport Rescue Fire Fighting to standby. The accident airplane landed on runway 13 and rolled approximately 2,000 feet on the runway before the left main landing gear collapsed. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident site stated, the left main gear assembly was found retracted and up into the engine nacelle. The lock down assembly was unlocked and undamaged. The left main landing gear torque link was broken and the left landing gear actuator gearbox assembly was detached from its mount box. The left main landing gear gearbox drive shaft was disconnected from the universal joint and the connecting bolt was missing. The investigating FAA inspector stated, at the time of the accident the accident airplane had accumulated about 148 hours since its last maintenance inspection, a Phase 3 of its Airplane Approved Inspection Program, on January 3, 2004. The Phase 3 inspection includes checking the actuator support brackets for visible damage, wear, cracks, and loose or missing rivets. An examination of the fractured left gear actuator support box structure brackets revealed a crack that circumscribes the lower hi-shear rivet holes of the outboard bracket. The operator of the accident airplane discovered a structural failure of the left main landing gear actuator support box structure during assessment of the damage to the left wheel well area. They report that it is suspected the structure had at least one existing crack which allowed the actuator to "float" within the support structure not allowing complete spring compression from the actuator to engage the left main landing gear drag leg hooks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11FL-2006-06-30), registration cancelled 2006-06-30, S/N LJ-301, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech BE90 - Registry model: [Beech 65-A90](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-a90) (registry code 1152908) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6 SER 578HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6-ser-578hp) (registry code 61501, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LJ-301 - Airframe hours: 14744.3 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Execstar Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Core Investments Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 1, 2004, 164.1 hours before - Departed: MMUN, Cancun - Destination: KFLL, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: FLL, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Intl, runway 13, 6,930 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 3,900 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 60° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KFLL ## 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 20040313007849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040313007849A), Mar 13, 2004: Beech 65A90, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 13, 2004 at approximately 0450 eastern standard time aircraft N11FL, a Beechcraft BE-65-A90, serial number LJ-301, operated by execstar… 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.