# NTSB WPR22LA040: Piper PA-28R-200, N5057S, Boulder City, NV, November 14, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 14, 2021, 14:23 local (22:23 UTC) - Place: Boulder City, NV - Coordinates: 35.94869, -114.85555 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9487&lon=-114.8555&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - 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, Piper Aircraft - NTSB case key (mKey): 104273 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104273/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104273 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA040 ## Probable cause The installation of an improper right main landing gear door rod-end bolt, which resulted in the right main landing gear not extending during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Misc hardware: fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause) ## Analysis During an approach to the airport, the right main landing gear would not extend. The pilot cycled the landing gear and made several abrupt, high-G maneuvers to try and free the right main landing gear from its retracted position. Despite his actions, the right main landing gear would not extend. During the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and right wing. During the postaccident examination of the airplane, the right main landing gear wheel well exhibited mechanical damage consistent with contact from the threaded end of the right gear door rod-end bolt. The right main landing gear door rod-end bolt had about 4 additional threads than the bolt used on the left main landing gear. The bolt was removed, and its length was 1-4/25 inch, which was about 1/8 inch longer than the correctly installed bolt, which measured 1-1/32 inch. It is likely that during the accident flight, the right main landing gear could not fully extend due to the right gear door rod-end bolt positioning itself on the inside of the landing gear wheel well, preventing the landing gear from extending. ## Factual narrative On November 14, 2021, about 1423 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28R-200 airplane, N5057S, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU), Boulder City, Nevada. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that after receiving the airplane from the paint shop, he conducted two takeoffs and landings in the local traffic pattern to check that the landing gear retracted and extended properly. Once the maintenance check flight was completed, he and his passenger departed on the accident flight to BVU. During the approach to BVU, the right main landing gear would not extend. The pilot cycled the landing gear and made several abrupt, high-G maneuvers to try and free the right main landing gear from its retracted position. Despite his actions, the right main landing gear would not extend. The pilot decided to land with the left main landing gear and the nose landing gear extended. As the airplane slowed during the landing roll, the right wing dropped to the runway surface and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The airplane came to rest over a small ditch and sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that the right main landing gear was retracted, and the landing gear door was opened about 1 to 2 inches. He said that he positioned himself in the ditch below the landing gear and pulled hard on the door to extend the gear. After a couple of attempts, the landing gear suddenly dropped down into place. During a postaccident examination, the airplane was lifted up on jacks and the airplane’s landing gear was examined. The emergency gear extension functioned normally, and both the nose landing gear and main gear fell into the down and locked position. Mechanical damage was found on the right main landing gear wheel well near the right gear door rod-end bolt travel area. The mechanical damage was consistent with the threaded end portion of the bolt. The right main landing gear door rod-end bolt had about 4 additional threads than the bolt used on the left main landing gear. The bolt was removed, and its length was 1-4/25 inch, which was about 1/8 inch longer than the correctly installed bolt, which measured 1-1/32 inch. Figure 1-Landing gear linkage and wheel well damage. The paint shop reported that the gear doors were never removed from the landing gear structure during the painting process. They reported that on this type of aircraft they do not remove the gear doors. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5057S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5057S-2023-09-16), registration cancelled 2023-09-16, S/N 28R-35784, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-35784 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 5700 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2020 - Departed: SMX, Santa Maria, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BVU, Boulder City Muni, runway 27, 5,103 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, private, commercial, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 19, 2021; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 18,000 total, 30 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 62 °F, dew point 15 °F - Altimeter: 29.02 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KBVU - METAR: METAR KBVU 142215Z AUTO 05004KT 10SM CLR 26/M03 A3015 RMK AO2 ## Other investigations on N5057S (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 FTW77DPG45](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77DPG45), Jun 10, 1977: Piper PA-28R (N5057S), Manila, AR, substantial damage ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104273. 12.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16360061&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Point%20One%20WPR22LA040_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16360188&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Art craft paint-statements (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16359243&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Art%20Craft%20Paint-Signed%20Statements%20regarding%20WPR22LA040%20Boulder%20city%20NV%20Safety%20improvement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array-accident site (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16359630&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Accident%20Site-Rel.pdf - Photo array-postaccident examination (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 820 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16360071&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Postaccident%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Hired mechanic-notes (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16360198&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA040%20Mechanic%27s%20Examination%20Notes_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Piper aircraft-bolt lengths (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 377 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16358849&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Re_%20Piper%20on%20bolt%20lengths_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16359253&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-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. --- 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.