# NTSB WPR12LA422: Hawker MK 11 SEA Fury, N4434P, Reno, NV, September 11, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 2012, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.668056, -119.876388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6681&lon=-119.8764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85067 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA422 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85067/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85067 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA422 ## Probable cause The collapse of the right main landing gear due to failure of the landing gear rotary selector valve seal. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Hawker MK 11 SEA FURY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=4220102), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Hawker MK 11 SEA FURY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=4220102), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Hawker MK 11 SEA FURY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=4220102), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Hawker MK 11 SEA FURY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=4220102), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Hawker MK 11 SEA FURY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=4220102), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that following an uneventful takeoff, the landing gear malfunctioned when he attempted to retract it. After several attempts, the landing gear retracted, and he performed his race course qualifying lap. Upon exiting the closed race course, he attempted to extend the landing gear. Following multiple attempts, the landing gear appeared to be down. The right main landing gear warning light was illuminated, and the pilot executed a precautionary landing. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear rotary selector valve seal had failed, which allowed hydraulic pressure to bypass the landing gear. The bypass in hydraulic pressure would preclude the landing gear system from operating normally. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2012, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Hawker MK11 Sea Fury, N4434P, was substantially damaged when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing roll at the Reno Stead Airport (RTS), Reno, Nevada. The airplane was registered to Air Zurich LLC, Lake Zurich, Illinois, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as Race 15. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the air race flight. The local flight originated from RTS about 30 minutes prior to the time of the accident. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that following an uneventful takeoff, he had a malfunction with retracting the landing gear. After several attempts, the landing gear retracted, and he performed his race course qualifying lap. Upon exiting the closed race course, he attempted to extend the landing gear. After about 20 minutes of troubleshooting the landing gear, it appeared to be down, however, with the right main landing gear warning light illuminated. The pilot initiated a precautionary landing on runway 14. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest upright adjacent to the runway. Examination of the airplane by the NTSB IIC revealed that the right wing, right aileron, and rudder were damaged. Further examination of the recovered airplane by a representative from Sanders Aeronautics, Ione, California, revealed that the landing gear rotary selector valve seal had failed, which allowed landing gear hydraulic pressure to bypass. The representative stated that the bypass in hydraulic pressure would preclude the landing gear retraction system from operating normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4434P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4434P), registered now, S/N WH 589, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HAWKER MK 11 SEA FURY - Registry model: [Hawker MK 11 SEA FURY](https://openairdocs.org/model/hawker-mk-11-sea-fury) (registry code 4220102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-4360](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-4360) (registry code 52120, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: WH 589 - Engines: P&W R-4360 3250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Operator: Matthew Jackson - Registered owner: Air Zurich LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 2012, 5 hours before - Departed: RTS, Reno, NV - Destination: RTS, Reno, NV - Airport: RTS, Reno Stead Airport, runway 14, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2011; seat: center; flight hours: 13,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 12 nm away ## 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 20120911021979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120911021979A), Sep 11, 2012: Hawker MK 11 SEA FURY, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. An unsafe right main landing gear indication was experienced after takeoff. On landing rollout, the right main landing gear & left main landing gear collapsed.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 29, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85067. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airframe Examination Summary (item 2, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381690&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Examination%20Summary-Redacted.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.