# NTSB WPR15LA179: Burr Express 2000 RG, N44508, Glendale, AZ, May 29, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 29, 2015, 15:42 local (22:42 UTC) - Place: Glendale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.522777, -112.290557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5228&lon=-112.2906&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91316 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91316/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91316 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA179 ## Probable cause A collapse of the left main landing gear for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Burr J G/Burr C EXPRESS 2000 RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05619WU), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Burr J G/Burr C EXPRESS 2000 RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05619WU), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Burr J G/Burr C EXPRESS 2000 RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05619WU), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, following a normal landing in the experimental amateur-built airplane, he applied beta thrust to decelerate the airplane and lightly applied the brakes. Suddenly, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane swerved to the left. The airplane departed the runway surface and the left wing impacted a runway sign. Postaccident examination revealed that the left main landing gear actuator heim rod failed where the threads met the rod end; however, the rod was not made available for further examination, and the reason for the landing gear collapse could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 29, 2015, about 1542 mountain standard time, a Burr Express 2000 RG, N44508, experienced a landing gear collapse during the landing roll at Glendale Municipal Airport (GEU) in Glendale, Arizona. The private pilot and one passenger were uninjured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and elevators. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from GEU at about 1500. The pilot reported that he landed the airplane onto the runway normally. He applied beta thrust to decelerate the airplane and started to brake lightly. Suddenly, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane swerved to the left. The airplane departed the runway surface and the left wing impacted a runway sign. It traversed along the dirt when the right landing gear collapsed and the tail impacted the ground before sliding to a rest. During a postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector it was revealed that the left main landing gear actuator heim rod failed where the threads meet the rod end. Given the location of the heim rod, the inspector was unable to view the fracture surface while the component was installed on the airplane. In addition, the inspector noted that the hydraulic line to the gear actuator was ripped. The National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-in-charge attempted to obtain the heim rod for further examination, however, the pilot had already repaired the airplane and the part was no longer available. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44508](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44508), registered now, S/N 0101RG, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BURR EXPRESS 2000 RG (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Burr J G/Burr C EXPRESS 2000 RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/burr-j-g-burr-c-express-2000-rg) (registry code 05619WU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-20) (registry code 52239, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0101RG - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 48 - Engines: P & W Canada PT6A-20 turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 2015, 48 hours before - Departed: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Destination: GEU, Glendale, AZ - Airport: GEU, Glendale Municipal Airport, runway 19, 7,150 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2008; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 739 total, 40 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: GEU ## 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 20150529011979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150529011979A), May 29, 2015: Burr J G/Burr C EXPRESS 2000 RG, Glendale, AZ, Substantial damage. On 5-29-2015 the aircraft (N44508-express 2000RG-experimetal) landed normally and dring the rollout the left gear collasped, followed by the right gear… ## Other investigations on N44508 (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 CEN22FA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22FA216), May 30, 2022: Express 2000RG (N44508), Cheyenne, WY, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inability to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while managing a loss of engine power and inflight fire, which resulted in an… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91316. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450738&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Email - Post Accident Exam (item 3, .PDF, 260 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450739&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20-%20Post%20Accident%20Exam-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.