# NTSB NYC07CA057: Foley James Searey, N477EM, Danbury, CT, January 18, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 18, 2007, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Danbury, CT - Coordinates: 41.371665, -73.482223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3717&lon=-73.4822&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 2, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 65171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65171/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA057 ## Probable cause Collapse of the left main landing gear due to previous damage. A factor in the accident was the inadequate annual condition inspection. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,main gear - collapsed - landing gear - previous damage (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor) ## Analysis During a pre-buy and annual condition inspection of an amateur built Searey, the mechanic advised the pilot that the airplane's landing gear was out of adjustment. According to the airplane's maintenance records, the mechanic removed two bolts from the gear retraction drag links that were "to short," and replaced them with longer ones. He also found that the bolts were hitting the over center links and "repositioned the washers for more clearance." He then performed a retraction and extension test of the landing gear. Two landings later, the left main gear collapsed. The airplane slid off the side of the runway, struck a taxiway sign and was substantially damaged. During a postaccident examination by the airplane kit manufacturer, it was discovered that the "lock arms" were carrying the landing gear loads instead of the flat portion of the "angle" assembly, which normally rested against a wear pad. Further examination revealed that, sometime prior to the accident the bulkhead upright tubes had been bent outwards and the forked end of the hydraulic ram was out of adjustment and could not fully retract, keeping the knee joint from traveling into the over-center locking position. ## Factual narrative During a pre-buy and annual condition inspection of an amateur built Searey, the mechanic advised the pilot that the airplane's landing gear was out of adjustment. According to the airplane's maintenance records, the mechanic removed two bolts from the gear retraction drag links that were "to short," and replaced them with longer ones. He also found that the bolts were hitting the over center links and "repositioned the washers for more clearance." He then performed a retraction and extension test of the landing gear. Two landings later, the left main gear collapsed. The airplane slid off the side of the runway, struck a taxiway sign and was substantially damaged. During a postaccident examination by the airplane kit manufacturer, it was discovered that the "lock arms" were carrying the landing gear loads instead of the flat portion of the "angle" assembly, which normally rested against a wear pad. Further examination revealed that, sometime prior to the accident the bulkhead upright tubes had been bent outwards and the forked end of the hydraulic ram was out of adjustment and could not fully retract, keeping the knee joint from traveling into the over-center locking position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N477EM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N477EM-2013-03-19), registration cancelled 2013-03-19, S/N 1DK-178, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Foley James Searey - Registry model: [Foley James SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/foley-james-searey) (registry code 05614T0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK178 - Airframe hours: 121 - Engines: Rotax 914 UL2 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: DAL Companies - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2007, 3.5 hours before - Departed: N41, Waterbury, CT - Destination: DXR, Danbury, CT - Airport: DXR, Danbury Municipal Airport, runway 17, 3,135 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 2,138 total, 7 in this make and model, 2,138 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 1.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: DXR ## 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 20070118001499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070118001499A), Jan 18, 2007: Amtr SEAREY, Danbury, CT, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot reported that during the landing roll the left main landing gear collapsed. Preliminary examination of the left main landing gear system… 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.