# NTSB WPR19LA239: Piper PA24, N6696P, Wendover, UT, August 24, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 24, 2019, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Wendover, UT - Coordinates: 40.718887, -114.030555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7189&lon=-114.0306&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100138 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100138/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100138 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA239 ## Probable cause Failure of the landing gear solenoid, which resulted in failure of the landing gear position switch, and the pilot's subsequent inability to extend the gear using the manual emergency extension system for undetermined reasons. ## 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 · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7102404), [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 gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during approach for landing at the conclusion of the cross-country flight, the airplane's landing gear would not fully extend. The pilot subsequently actuated the hand emergency landing gear release lever, and the landing gear still would not fully extend to the down-and-locked position. The pilot then performed multiple heavy g-force maneuvers in an attempt to lower the landing gear but was unable to extend and lock the gear, and subsequently landed the airplane in a dirt area adjacent to the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. Examination revealed that the landing gear solenoid was inoperative, resulting in the failure of the gear to operate using the gear position switch; however, the emergency gear extension system operated multiple times during postaccident testing with no anomalies noted. ## Factual narrative On August 24, 2019, about 1315 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane, N6696P, was substantially damaged during landing at the Wendover Airport (ENV), Wendover, Nevada. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The cross-country flight departed South Valley Regional Airport (U42), Salt Lake City, Utah, at 1215, with a destination of ENV. The pilot reported that during the approach to ENV, he lowered the landing gear and waited for the landing gear indicator light to illuminate. When the indicator light did not illuminate, he continued to cycle the landing gear lever several times to no avail. The landing gear extension motor-raise motor release arm was released and the landing gear extension handle was operated. Despite his actions, the landing gear did not extend. The pilot contacted the airport's UNICOM and declared an emergency. Another pilot who was flying a helicopter in the area contacted the pilot and told him that he would come up along side the airplane to get a visual on the airplane's landing gear. The helicopter pilot reported that the landing gear was about a 1/3 extended. Furthermore, the pilot's wife used the landing gear spot mirrors and verified that the landing gear was partially extended; and that only the tires were visible. In a final attempt to get the landing gear extended, the pilot conducted heavy g-force maneuvers but was unsuccessful. The pilot decided that it was time to land at ENV and landed on the dirt section, adjacent to the runway. During the landing sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower forward section of the fuselage. The airplane serial number (s/n) 24-1821, was manufactured in 1960 and purchased by the pilot in 2015. The low-wing airplane was equipped with four seats, retractable tricycle landing gear, and traditional flight control surfaces. The pilot reported having accrued 384 flight hours in the airplane at the time of the accident. A review of the maintenance logbooks and the tachometer reading at the accident site indicated that the airplane had a total time in service of 2,080.11 hours. On June 23, 2018, 5.62 flight hours before the accident, the landing gear was swung, and an emergency extension of the landing gear was performed during an annual inspection. No anomalies were noted. The airplane was relocated to a secure location and a postaccident examination was conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC). The landing gear system examination revealed that the landing gear would not extend under normal operations. After further examination, the landing gear solenoid was found inoperative. The emergency landing gear extension system was examined. The emergency landing gear motor-raise motor release arm, and thelanding gear emergency gear handle was operated multiple times and no anomalies were noted. For further information on the post-accident examination see the Wreckage Examination Summary in the public docket for this accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6696P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6696P-2020-01-10), registration cancelled 2020-01-10, S/N 24-1821, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA24 (250) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1821 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 2078.47 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Rocco Phillip W - Registered owner: Rocco Phillip W - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: May 28, 2019 - Departed: U42, West Jordan, UT - Destination: ENV, Wendover, UT - Airport: ENV, Wendover, runway 08, 10,002 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review July 23, 2017; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 965.9 total, 383.5 in this make and model, 504.5 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F - Observed at: KENV ## 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 20190824023939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190824023939A), Aug 24, 2019: Piper PA-24-250, Wendover, NV, Substantial damage. The accident pilot and passenger were approaching Wendover field and activated the landing gear switch and watched for the confirmation light to come on. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 14, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100138. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Wreckage Examination Summary (item 2, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo Array-Accident Site (item 3, .PDF, 840 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Accident%20Site-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.