# NTSB WPR11FA159: Fairchild SA227-AC, N671AV, Seattle, WA, March 11, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 2011, 18:41 local (Mar 11, 2011, 02:41 UTC) - Place: Seattle, WA - Coordinates: 47.529998, -122.30194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5300&lon=-122.3019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 13, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78531 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11FA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78531/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78531 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA159 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-up landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild SA227-AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=3377509), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: configuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Fairchild SA227-AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md?model=3377509), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Fairchild SA227-AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=3377509), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Fairchild SA227-AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3377509), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that following two attempts to land in crosswind conditions, he was cleared to land and was instructed by the air traffic control tower controller to follow another airplane on final approach. For spacing considerations, the controller instructed the pilot to conduct "S" turns behind the traffic landing ahead of him. As the airplane descended to an altitude of about 200 feet above ground level, the controller instructed the pilot to go around and maintain altitude. The pilot executed a go-around procedure, which included retracting the landing gear and reducing the flap setting to one-half flaps. Shortly after, the pilot was issued a clearance to land. The pilot proceeded with the landing clearance and subsequently landed with the gear in the retracted position, which resulted in structural damage to the airframe. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies or failures with the landing gear or landing gear warning system. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2011, about 1841 Pacific standard time, a Fairchild SA227-AC, N671AV, sustained substantial damage during a gear-up landing at the Boeing Field King County International Airport (BFI), Seattle, Washington. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to UAS Transervices Inc., Pasadena, California, and operated by Ameriflight Inc., Burbank, California, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the on-demand cargo flight. The cross-country flight originated from Lewiston (LWS), Idaho, at 1715 with an intended destination of BFI. In a written statement, the pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge that he began his duty day at 0530 for his scheduled flight from BFI to LWS. Upon arriving at LWS, the pilot was notified of an unscheduled flight back to BFI and subsequent return to LWS. The pilot stated that the unscheduled trip during that day "disrupted my normal sleep pattern.” Upon returning to LWS the afternoon of the day of the accident, he began his normal scheduled afternoon flight from LWS to BFI. The pilot said that the flight was uneventful except for moderate turbulence over the Cascade mountain range. While en route to BFI, the pilot obtained weather at BFI, noting wind from 210 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 35 knots. The pilot further reported that his first two landing attempts at BFI resulted in aborted landing attempts due to the crosswinds and airspeed deviations of 30 knots. He said that during his third attempt to land, he was instructed by the air traffic control tower (ATCT) controller to follow a Cessna Citation that was on final approach for runway 13R. Upon reporting the traffic in sight, the pilot was given his landing clearance and subsequently told to "turn base early" due to another airplane on approach to landing. The pilot stated that the Citation "missed their runway turnoff" to the taxiway and that he was told by the air traffic controller to make "S" turns for spacing. As the airplane descended to about 200 feet above ground level on final approach to the runway, the pilot was instructed by the controller to "go around, maintain altitude.” The pilot said that he executed the go-around procedure, which included flaps to one-half and landing gear up. About 10 seconds later, the pilot was issued a landing clearance by the controller. The pilot stated that he "...proceeded with my landing clearance, knowing that all check-lists have been completed, and I was in a normal position to land. There is no gear warning system with flaps 1/2 and no call outs or check-lists to indicate my gear had been retracted." Subsequently, the airplane landed gear up on runway 13R. The airplane came to rest upright in a safety area between runway 13R and 13L just south of alpha 7 taxiway. Review of thepilot training manual for the Fairchild SA227-AC revealed that a landing gear warning horn will sound if either power lever is retarded to flight idle or the flaps are lowered slightly beyond 1/2 when the landing gear is not in the down and locked position. Examination of the airplane by company maintenance personnel and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed structural damage to both engine firewalls and aft fuselage bulkhead. Following recovery of the wreckage, the airplane was placed on jack stands. Power was applied to the airplane and the landing gear system was actuated to the up and down positions with no mechanical anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N671AV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N671AV), registered now, S/N AC671, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD SA227-AC - Registry model: [Fairchild SA227-AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-sa227-ac) (registry code 3377509) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AC671 - Airframe hours: 21847 - Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE331 SERIES 904 horsepower turbo prop; AIRESEARCH TPE331 SERIES 904 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Ameriflight Inc - Registered owner: Uas Transervices Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: AAIP, February 21, 2011, 88 hours before - Departed: Lewiston, ID - Destination: BFI, Seattle, WA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BFI, Boeing Field King County Int., runway 13R, 10,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 15, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,432 total, 78 in this make and model, 2,294 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 200° at 16 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: BFI ## 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 20110310003479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110310003479A), Mar 10, 2011: Fairchild SA227-AC, Seattle, WA, Substantial damage. The pilot-in-command was operating the aircraft for a part 135 cargo operator. The pilot made several go arounds. On his final attempt to land, he failed to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78531. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 413 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Federal Aviation Administration Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355390&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector-Master.PDF 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.