# NTSB MIA91LA003: Beech C-90, N7128J, Tampa, FL, October 3, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 2, 1990, 23:59 local (Oct 3, 1990, 03:59 UTC)
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Coordinates: 27.959333, -82.490707 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9593&lon=-82.4907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32778
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32778/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA003

## Probable cause

THE LACK OF LUBRICATION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR ACTUATOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - maintenance,lubrication - not performed, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear - seized
  - gear extension - not possible, pilot in command

## Analysis

DURING FLT BEFORE ACCIDENT FLT, THE LANDING GEAR MALFUNCTIONED. EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED BUT REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL LUBRICATED THE NOSE GEAR RETRACT CHAIN & ADJUSTED THE GEAR DOWN LIGHT INDICATOR SWITCH. THE AIRPLANE WAS FLOWN WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. THE ACCIDENT FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL AFTER LOWERING THE LANDING GEAR SELECTOR HANDLE, THE GEAR DID NOT FULLY EXTEND. THE EMERGENCY METHOD WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. EXAM OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR WAS SEIZED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE ACFT LOGBOOKS INDICATE THAT ALL GEAR ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED ON 8-23-86. THERE WERE NO FURTHER ENTRIES INDICATING THAT THEY WERE LUBRICATED. ACCORDING TO THE MAINT MANUAL, THE ACTUATORS SHOULD BE REMOVED FOR LUBRICATION EVERY 1,000 CYCLES OF OPERATION OR 30 MOS., WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. THE ACFT ACCUMULATED 3,154 CYCLES SINCE REPLACEMENT OF THE ACTUATORS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7128J (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C-90
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: LJ619
- Airframe hours: 13032
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dodson Aviation, Inc.
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 19, 1990, 7 hours before
- Departed: OJC, OLATHE, KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TPA, Tampa Int'L, runway 9, 6,998 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 13,338 total, 900 in this make and model, 12,935 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: TPA

## 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 19901002045819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901002045819A), Oct 2, 1990: Beech C90, Tampa, FL, Substantial damage. Unable to lock gear down. Mains collapsed on landing. Gear actuators lacked lubrication. 7000 cycles since service

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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