# NTSB WPR14LA105: Piper PA 23-250, N5977Y, Camarillo, CA, January 28, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 2014, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Camarillo, CA - Coordinates: 34.21389, -119.089996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2139&lon=-119.0900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88731 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88731/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88731 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA105 ## Probable cause The inadequate hydraulic pressure due to a damaged O-ring in the hydraulic powerpack, which prevented the right main landing gear (MLG) downlock from locking in the extended positon and allowed the right MLG to collapse during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Hydraulic power system: hydraulic, main system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022910): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022910/cases.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022910/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 collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Piper PA-23-250, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102308), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing touch-and-go landings and that, during the second landing, the right wing contacted the ground. The airplane then came to a stop on the runway. Postaccident examinations revealed that the right main gear landing (MLG) downlock was not in the locked position and that the right MLG had collapsed during landing. During the teardown of the hydraulic powerpack, a damaged O-ring was found on the gear selector shaft. The damaged O-ring did not allow the hydraulic fluid to build pressure and the downlock to hold, which prevented the downlock from locking the right MLG in the extended position. ## Factual narrative On January 28, 2014, about 1515 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-23, N5977Y, sustained substantial damage following the collapse of the right main landing gear during the landing roll out at the Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California. The airplane was registered to Red State, LLC and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91 as a personal flight. The commercial pilot and the pilot rated passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Bob Hope Airport (BUR), Burbank, CA, at 1440 with a planned destination of CMA. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported in a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), investigator-in-charge (IIC), that the purpose of the flight was landing operations and airplane familiarization at CMA for the commercial pilot. After completing a touch-and-go landing in the traffic pattern at CMA, the pilot performed prelanding procedures and landed a second time on runway 26. He stated that after touching down, the right wing contacted the ground and the airplane came to a stop on the runway. The right aileron was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted by a local mechanic. The examination revealed that the right main landing gear was down and the downlock was not in the locked position during landing. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the landing gear system. The hydraulic power-pack was sent to a repair shop for further examination. According to the repair shop, the hydraulic power-pack was bench tested which revealed that it was bypassing the detent internally. During the teardown of the unit, a damaged o-ring was found on the gear selector shaft. This damaged o-ring was not allowing the fluid to build pressure and hold. The repair shop further reported that the unit's oil and internal surface was very dirty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5977Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5977Y), registered now, S/N 27-3148, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 23-250 (250) - Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 27-3148 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 11369 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 19, 2013, 67 hours before - Departed: BUR, BURBANK, CA - Destination: CMA, Camarillo, CA - Airport: CMA, Camarillo, runway 26, 6,013 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2013; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 992 total, 1 in this make and model, 720 as pilot in command, 193 in the last 90 days, 95 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KCMA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20140128002069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140128002069I), Jan 28, 2014: Piper PA-23-250, Camarillo, CA, Minor damage. N5977Y departed bur to cma for a company training flight. While training at cma the pilots performed one low approach, then did one touch and go, on the next… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88731. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425691&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - A&P Mechanic's Email Statement (item 2, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425692&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=A%26P%20Mechanic%27s%20Email%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Overhauler's Email Statement (item 3, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Overhauler%27s%20Email%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Cox Airparts Teardown Report (item 4, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425694&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cox%20Airparts%20Teardown%20Report-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.