# NTSB MIA98LA125: Piper PA-34-200T, N8269A, Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 6, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 6, 1998, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.189718, -80.170257 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1897&lon=-80.1703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38491
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA125
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38491/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA125

## Probable cause

The failure of the O-rings in the landing gear hydraulic cylinder.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - hydraulic system,seal - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot smelled a fragrance similar to solvent in cruise flight. A short time later, the gear warning light illuminated, went out, repeated the sequence, and then remained on continuously. The tower was made aware of the situation and a flyby was conducted. Attempts to lower all three landing gear with a safe gear indication was unsuccessful. On landing rollout the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination revealed that the left main landing gear would not fully extend. The O-rings in the hydraulic cylinder failed, and hydraulic fluid had leaked out.

## Factual narrative

On April 6, 1998, about 1015 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N8269A, registered to N8269A Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight experienced an unsafe landing gear condition (red landing gear warning light), about 140 nautical miles east of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The left main landing gear indicated an unsafe condition, and collapsed on landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated about 2 hours 5 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated in an interview with the FAA that while in cruise flight they smelled a fragrance similar to solvent. A short time later, the gear unsafe light illuminated, went out, repeated the sequence, and then remained on continuously. The Fort Lauderdale control tower was made aware of the situation and a fly-by was conducted. The tower informed the pilot that all three gears were down; however, the unsafe gear warning light remained illuminated. Yaw inputs, G-loading, and another fly-by was conducted with negative results. An approach to runway 08 was conducted. The left main landing gear collapsed on landing rollout, and the airplane collided with a runway light.

On-scene examination of the airplane revealed the left main landing gear would not fully extend. The O-rings in the hydraulic cylinder failed, and the hydraulic fluid had leaked out.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8269A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8269A-2014-11-26), registration cancelled 2014-11-26, S/N 34-8070362, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-200T
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 2468
- Engines: Continental TSIO-360-E-CB 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David C. Salter
- Registered owner: N862a Inc.
- Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 1997, 59 hours before
- Departed: MYEM, ELEUTHERA, OF
- Destination: FXE, FL
- Airport: FXE, Fort Lauderdale Executive, runway 6, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,800 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FXE

## 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 19980406005939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980406005939A), Apr 6, 1998: Piper PA34200T, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Unsafe gear light. Did fly by appeared to be down. Lt gear collapsed due faulty orings allowed fluid to by pass. (.4)the pilot smelled a fragrance similar to…

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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