# NTSB MKC85FA076: Swearingen SA226TC, N508SS, Hot Springs, AR, March 23, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 23, 1985, 10:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Hot Springs, AR
- Coordinates: 34.500541, -93.049491 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5005&lon=-93.0495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 9 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC85FA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33826/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85FA076

## Sequence of events

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

- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - inadequate, copilot/second pilot
  - landing gear,gear switch - inadequate (contributing factor)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, production/design personnel (contributing factor)
  - gear retraction - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE FIRST OFFICER WAS MAKING THE LANDING AND THE ACFT BOUNCED DURING TOUCHDOWN. THE CAPTAIN'S RIGHT HAND, WHICH HAD BEENNEAR THE FLOOR TO THE RIGHT OF HIS SEAT, BUMPED THE LANDING GEAR SELECTOR TO THE UP POSITION AS THE CAPTAIN REACHED FOR THE YOKE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN LANDED WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED. ALTHOUGH THE LANDING GEAR SELECTOR HANDLE LATCH MECHANISM OPERATED AS DESIGNED, TESTS SHOWED THE MECHANISM OFFERED LITTLE RESISTANCE TO INADVERTENT MOVEMENT TO THE UP POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N508SS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA226TC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5C376
- Airframe hours: 10717
- Engines: GARRETT TPE331 SERIES 840 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Air Midwest Skyways, Inc.
- Registered owner: Air Midwest Skyways, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 16, 1985, 45 hours before
- Departed: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HOT, Hot Spring Mem, runway 23, 6,600 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,032 total, 1,280 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F
- Observed at: HOT

## 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 19850323011539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850323011539A), Mar 23, 1985: Swrngn SA226TC, Hot Springs, AR, Substantial damage. Bounced during first officer landing. Captain inadvertently hit gear handle as he reached for yoke. Gear collapsed.

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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