# NTSB WPR17LA061: Beech 95 B55 (T42A), N321BJ, Cameron Park, CA, February 1, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 1, 2017, 14:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: Cameron Park, CA
- Coordinates: 38.683612, -120.985832 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6836&lon=-120.9858&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94683
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94683/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94683
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA061

## Probable cause

Failure of the landing gear to extend as a result of excessive wear within the landing gear gearbox and motor, which resulted in a gear-up landing.

## 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: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A), 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=1152706), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he heard a loud crunch when he raised the landing gear shortly after takeoff. The pilot climbed the airplane to about 3,000 ft and attempted to lower the landing gear using both the normal and emergency gear extension procedures but was unable to do so and subsequently landed with the gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. Examination revealed that the landing would not extend normally. The landing gear motor was found shorted out internally and the gearbox sector gear contacted the internal stop when retracted; therefore, the emergency gear handle was not in contact with the pinion and rotated freely. The crank assembly exhibited signs of excessive wear and excessive pinion shaft end play. The American Bonanza Society Air Safety Foundation’s Landing Gear Inspection Checklist and Repair Guide stated that, “if the sector gear [end] hits the stop in either the extended or retracted position, the gearbox and motor should be removed and overhauled. The most common cause of this condition is a gear motor that is due for overhaul.” The excessive wear within the gearbox caused the sector gear to lose contact with the pinion which caused the gear motor and emergency gear handle to rotate freely with no corresponding motion from the landing gear itself.

## Factual narrative

On February 1, 2017, about 1410 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 95-B55 airplane, N321BJ, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Cameron Park, California. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that when he raised the landing gear shortly after takeoff, he heard a loud crunch as the gear entered the gear wells. The pilot climbed the airplane to about 3,000 ft and saw that the landing gear circuit breaker was popped, and the alternator was off. The pilot attempted to extend the landing gear normally several times after resetting the circuit breaker; however, the circuit breaker popped each time and the gear remained retracted. The pilot also attempted to use the emergency gear extension to no avail, and subsequently landed with the landing gear retracted which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. During a postaccident examination, the airplane was positioned on jacks and electrical power was supplied. The landing gear handle was put in the down position however, the gear would not extend normally as the landing gear motor did not respond and got hot. The emergency extension handle, and housing assembly was removed to extend the landing gear. During the removal, the bearing retaining ring was not secured and fell out. The gear motor was subsequently removed which allowed the landing gear extension to the down and locked position. The landing gear motor was function tested by applying 28 volts to both the clockwise and counterclockwise wires. It was determined that the motor was shorted out internally. The gearbox was disassembled; the gearbox sector gear contacted the internal stop when retracted and the emergency gear handle lost contact with the pinion, causing it to rotate freely. In turn, the emergency gear handle lost contact with the pinion and rotated freely. The crank assembly exhibited signs of excessive wear and excessive pinion shaft end play resulting in the gear handle to disconnect from the pinion gear when the sector gear was against the internal up stop. The American Bonanza Society Air Safety Foundation’s Landing Gear Inspection Checklist and Repair Guide stated: There should be 1/8 to 1/4 turn counterclockwise remaining to the stop when you crank the emergency handcrank down…If the sector gear hits the stop in either the extended or retracted position, the gearbox and motor should be removed and overhauled. The most common cause of this condition is a gear motor that is due for overhaul.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N321BJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N321BJ-2019-02-04), registration cancelled 2019-02-04, S/N TC-925, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 95 B55 (T42A) (A)
- Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TC-925
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 6101
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470 reciprocating; CONTINENTAL IO-470 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2016
- Departed: O61, Cameron Park, CA
- Destination: O61, Cameron Park, CA
- Airport: O61, Cameron Airpark, runway 13, 4,051 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 14, 2016; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 31,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 21,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: PVF, 11 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 20170201002349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170201002349A), Feb 1, 2017: Beech 95-B55 (T42A), Cameron Park, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that during take off he heard a loud bang when the landing gear was retracted. Upon climbing to a safe altitude he began trouble shooting the…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94683. 5.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11653692&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of memorandum - pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11657138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=pilot%20statement%20police%20report-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement regarding postaccident landing gear examination (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11654780&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector%20statement-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt from the American bonanza society air safety foundationa��s landing gear inspection checklist and repair guide (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 534 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11654010&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=landing%20gear%20guide%20excerpt-Rel.pdf
- Photos of aircraft damage (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 948 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11653718&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=damage%20photos-Rel.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.

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