# NTSB MIA04LA111: Robert J. Labonte Defiant, N369BL, DeLand, FL, July 23, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 2004, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: DeLand, FL - Coordinates: 29.066944, -81.283889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0669&lon=-81.2839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59759 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59759/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA111 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to fully extend the nose landing gear resulting in collapse of it during the landing roll. A contributing factor in the accident was the lack of a nose landing gear down and locked indicator. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - gear down and locked - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft/equipment inadequate, manufacturer (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the flight proceeded to the destination airport area where he lowered the retractable nose landing gear during the base leg to land on runway 05. The flight turned final, touched down first on the main landing gears, then when he lowered the nose landing gear to the runway, it appeared to hold for an instant then collapsed. The airplane slid a distance then came to rest upright; he secured the airplane then both he and the passenger evacuated it. The nose was raised from the runway, the nose landing gear manual gear extension/retraction handle was lowered and locked into position, which locked the nose landing gear into the down and locked position. There is no nose landing gear down and locked light indication in the cockpit; he could see the nose landing gear was extended. He further reported there was no failure of the nose landing gear retraction/extension components, and the nose gear collapse was not a rigging issue but rather his failure to push forward on the retraction/extension handle with enough force. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 2004, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt twin-engine Defiant, N369BL, registered to a private individual, experienced collapse of the nose landing gear upon touchdown at the DeLand Municipal-Sidney H. Taylor Field (DeLand Airport), DeLand, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from the Massey Ranch Airpark, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, to the DeLand Airport, DeLand, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1550, from the Massey Ranch Airpark. The pilot stated that the flight proceeded to the destination airport area where he lowered the retractable nose landing gear during the base leg to land on runway 05. The flight turned final, touched down first on the main landing gears, then when he lowered the nose landing gear to the runway, it appeared to hold for an instant then collapsed. The airplane slid a distance then came to rest upright; he secured the airplane then both he and the passenger evacuated it. The nose was raised from the runway, the nose landing gear manual gear extension/retraction handle was lowered and locked into position, which locked the nose landing gear into the down and locked position. There is no nose landing gear down and locked indication in the cockpit; he could see the nose landing gear was extended. He further reported there was no failure of the nose landing gear retraction/extension components, and the nose gear collapse was not a rigging issue but rather his failure to push forward on the retraction/extension handle with enough force. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N369BL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N369BL-2017-06-19), registration cancelled 2017-06-19, S/N D-0369, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robert J. Labonte Defiant - Registry model: [Labonte Robert J DEFIANT](https://openairdocs.org/model/labonte-robert-j-defiant) (registry code 05617M4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: D-0369 - Airframe hours: 20 - Engines: Eggenfellner EA-6TD 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert J. Labonte - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: X50, New Smyrna Bch, FL - Destination: KDED, DeLand, FL - Airport: KDED, DeLand Municipal, runway 05, 3,984 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,260 total, 12 in this make and model, 2,260 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KDAB ## 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 20040723024169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040723024169A), Jul 23, 2004: Amtr DEFIANT, Deland, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On 7-23-2004 at 1658 local time, a homebuilt Defiant, N369BL, experienced a collapse of the nose landing gear upon touchdown on runway 05 at Deland… 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.