# NTSB WPR22LA249: Piper PA-32R-301T, N4383D, Red Bluff, CA, June 20, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 19, 2022, 17:00 local (Jun 20, 2022, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Red Bluff, CA · airport environment - Coordinates: 40.150306, -122.25219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1503&lon=-122.2522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 105460 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105460/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105460 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA249 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to detect the tripped landing gear motor circuit breaker, which prevented the gear from fully locking in the down position, and subsequent collapse during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-301T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7103220), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the retractable gear airplane reported that, while conducting a practice instrument approach, he felt the gear go down and thought that he saw three green landing gear lights, and no gear unsafe indicator light. The main landing gear touched down and the nose dropped down lower than normal. The propeller struck the ground and the left main gear collapsed. The airplane received substantial damage to the left aileron. According to the pilot, a mechanic discovered the landing gear motor circuit breaker had popped, which disabled the landing gear from fully extending and lock in the down position and disabled the warning light system. Once the circuit breaker was reset, the landing gear functioned normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4383D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4383D), registered now, S/N 32R-8529004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-301T - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-301t) (registry code 7103220) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-8529004 - Year built: 0 - Airframe hours: 3155.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-5IAO 300 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2022 - Departed: WHP, San Fernando, CA - Destination: RBL, Red Bluff, CA - Airport: RBL, Red Bluff Muni, runway 33, 5,431 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 23, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 464.9 total, 147.9 in this make and model, 464.9 as pilot in command, 14.5 in the last 90 days, 7.4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105460. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14256909&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ntsb%20form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14305801&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14306238&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR22LA249-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.