# NTSB WPR16LA187: Jurcan Seawind 3000, N57TJ, Renton, WA, September 18, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 2016, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Renton, WA - Coordinates: 47.489166, -122.209442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4892&lon=-122.2094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 94091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94091/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94091 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA187 ## Probable cause The failure of the landing gear system to either fully retract or extend due to a cracked hydraulic fitting flare, which resulted in the loss of hydraulic pressure. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Anthony L Jurcan SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=05631LV), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Hydraulic power system: hydraulic, main system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022910): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Anthony L Jurcan SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022910/cases.md?model=05631LV), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022910/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Anthony L Jurcan SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=05631LV), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Anthony L Jurcan SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=05631LV), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Anthony L Jurcan SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=05631LV), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Anthony L Jurcan SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05631LV), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Anthony L Jurcan SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05631LV), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Anthony L Jurcan SEAWIND 3000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05631LV), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight. He reported that, after arriving at his destination and trying to ensure that the airplane was configured for the water landing, he observed that the right main landing gear (MLG) indicator light was off and that the hydraulic pressure read 0. The pilot then attempted to retract the right MLG several times to no avail. He chose to fly to a nearby airport with a paved runway, where the tower controller confirmed that the right MLG was extended but that the left MLG and nose landing gears were retracted. The pilot attempted to use the backup manual hydraulic pump and abrupt maneuvers to extend the remaining landing gear to no avail. The pilot chose to land on the runway with the landing gear partially retracted. The airplane touched down on the runway with the right MLG first. The pilot held the left wing off the runway as long as possible, but then the wing touched the runway, and the airplane veered off the runway surface. The airplane slid along the grass, impacted an airport sign and light, spun 180°, and then came to a rest. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a hydraulic leak had originated from a cracked flare in a hydraulic line fitting, which caused the hydraulic fluid to leak, decreased the hydraulic pressure to 0, and prevented the landing gear system from fully extending or retracting. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 2016, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Jurcan Seawind 3000 airplane, N57TJ, impacted a runway sign after landing with a landing gear malfunction at the Renton Municipal Airport (RNT), Renton, Washington. The pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot as a personal flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed from Lampson Field Airport (1O2) Lakeport, California at 1040 and was originally destined for Lake Sammamish, Issaquah, Washington. The pilot reported that after arriving at Lake Sammamish, they observed that the right main landing gear indicator light was off and the hydraulic pressure read zero. The pilot attempted to retract the right landing gear several times, but to no avail. He elected to fly to a nearby airport, where the control tower confirmed that the right main landing gear was extended, while the left main and nose landing gears remained retracted. The pilot attempted to use the back-up manual hydraulic pump as well as abrupt maneuvers to lower the remaining landing gears, however, to no avail. The pilot elected to land onto the runway with the abnormal landing gear configuration. The airplane touched down onto the runway right landing gear first. The pilot held the left wing off the runway as long as possible, but when the wing touched the runway, the airplane veered off the runway surface. It slid along the grass and impacted an airport sign and light, before spinning 180 degrees and coming to a rest. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a hydraulic leak that originated at a cracked flare in a hydraulic line fitting. This fitting was located on the bulkhead between the cabin and nose compartment that leads directly into the nose gear actuator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57TJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57TJ-2024-03-25), registration cancelled 2024-03-25, S/N 52 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JURCAN Seawind 3000 - Registry model: [Anthony L Jurcan SEAWIND 3000](https://openairdocs.org/model/anthony-l-jurcan-seawind-3000) (registry code 05631LV) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 52 - Airframe hours: 132 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO540-L1B5 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2015, 70 hours before - Departed: 1O2, Lakeport, CA - Destination: RNT, Renton, WA - Airport: RNT, Renton Municipal Airport, runway 16, 5,382 × 200 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 14, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,984 total, 130 in this make and model, 1,984 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: RNT, 1 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 20160918019029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160918019029A), Sep 18, 2016: Anthony L Jurcan SEAWIND 3000, Renton, WA, Substantial damage. On September 18, 2016, at 1300 PST, N57TJ, a seawind 3000 amphibious experimental amateur-built aircraft executed an emergency landing at Renton Municipal… ## Other investigations on N57TJ (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 WPR23FA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA344), Sep 15, 2023: Seawind 3000 (N57TJ), Bellevue, WA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control after encountering a lake swell and skipping during takeoff. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 10, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94091. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversations - Pilot, Owner, Builder (item 2, .PDF, 546 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations%20-%20Pilot,%20Owner,%20Builder-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.