# NTSB SEA94LA229: Beech E-35, N5093C, Everett, WA, August 25, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 25, 1994, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Everett, WA - Coordinates: 47.979026, -122.200431 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9790&lon=-122.2004&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42014/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA229 ## Probable cause THE NOSE GEAR EXTENSION ASSEMBLY FAILURE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - fractured (cause) - Gear not extended, landing - roll ## Analysis WHILE APPROACHING THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING, THE PILOT EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR, HOWEVER, THE NOSE GEAR DID NOT EXTEND. THE PILOT TRIED THE MANUAL EXTENSION AND THE MAINS EXTENDED BUT NOT THE NOSE GEAR DID NOT. A LANDING WAS MADE WITH THE NOSE GEAR RETRACTED. DURING THE POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY, THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATING ROD WAS FOUND BROKEN. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 1994, at 1330 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Beech E-35, N5093C, landed with a retracted nose gear at Snohomish County Airport, Everett, Washington. The flight instructor and his two passengers were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Bremerton International Airport, Bremerton, Washington, about one-half hour earlier, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that while approaching the airport for landing, he lowered the landing gear. The pilot trimmed the airplane and noted that the trim wheel locked and there was some added force on the elevator control. The pilot also noted that the landing gear mechanical pointer showed that the landing gear was retracted and neither the gear up or down lights were illuminated. The pilot looked at the wing mirrors and saw that the main landing gear looked down, however, the nose gear was not extended. The pilot retracted the gear and immediately found that the trim wheel became free and there was no resistance on the elevator control. The pilot then extended the landing gear and noted that the mains extended but not the nose gear. The pilot then notified the tower and did a fly-by to confirm his situation. The pilot departed the pattern and prepared the airplane to manually extend the landing gear, however, the nose gear still did not extend. The pilot then notified the tower that he was going to land with the main landing gear down and the nose gear retracted. During the landing, the airplane slid on its nose before coming to rest. During the post crash inspection, it was found that the gear retract link rod was broken. Further inspection found that the heim rod end of the gear retract link rod had broken just aft of the locking nut where the eye of the rod end attaches to the gear retract idler arm assembly. The gear retract link rod was putting pressure on a gang of pulleys which stopped the trim wheel. With the gear up, the trim wheel was free. When the gear was down, the gear retract link rod was pushed forward and to the left through the bulkhead assembly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5093C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5093C-2020-02-28), registration cancelled 2020-02-28, S/N D-2355 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH E-35 - Registry model: [Beech B35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b35) (registry code 1151506) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-2355 - Airframe hours: 4338 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-K12 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Craven, Norman S. - Registered owner: Abcs Association - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 1994, 40 hours before - Departed: WA96, BREMERTON, WA - Airport: PAE, Snohomish Co, runway 34L, 9,010 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,700 total, 550 in this make and model, 1,560 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 9 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PAE ## 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 19940825023279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940825023279A), Aug 25, 1994: Beech B35, Everett, WA, Substantial damage. Nose gear failed to extend. Unable extend it manually. Landed nose gear up retract link rod broke. Jammed trim. ## Other investigations on N5093C (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR19LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA064), Jan 13, 2019: Beech 35 (N5093C), Port Hadlock, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation and the pilot’s mismanagement of the available fuel. 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.