UND General Info | UND Medical School | UND Discussion | Other Sites | Look Back
Data Source: NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE Report Number: CHI94LA087 Local Date: 02/13/1994 Local Time: 14:33 CST State: ND City: GRAND FORKS Airport Name: GRAND FORKS INTL Airport Id: GFK Event Type: ACCIDENT Injury Severity: NONE Report Status: FINAL Mid Air Collision: NO
Category of Operation: GENERAL AVIATION Aircraft Type: AIRPLANE Aircraft Damage: SUBSTANTIAL Phase of Flight: 570 LANDING Aircraft Make/Model: PIPER PA-44-180 Operator Doing Business As: Operator Name: Operator Code: Operator: Owner Name: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
WHEN THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED FOR LANDING, THE RIGHT MA IN LANDING GEAR LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND AN UNSAFE GEAR WARNING WAS RECEIVED. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO ASSURE THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED INCLUDING REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT NORMAL AND EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION. UPON LANDING THE RI GHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A COTTER PIN ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SCISSORS HA D BEEN OPEN AND CAUGHT A WIRING BUNDLE IN THE WHEEL WELL WHICH PREVENTED THE DOWN LOCK FROM ENGAGING.
Occurrence #: 1 190 GEAR COLLAPSED
Phase of Operation: 571 LANDING - FLARE/TOUCHDOWN
Findings
Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor
1a. 10431(S) - 1226(M) Factor
LANDING GEAR, MAIN GEAR STRUT SCISSORS - NOT SAFETIED
1b. 24111(S) - 3109(M) - 4108(P) Cause
MAINTENANCE, INSTALLATION - IMPROPER - OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL
2b. 22002(S) - 3131(M) - 4103(P) Factor
GEAR EXTENSION - NOT POSSIBLE - PILOT IN COMMAND (CFI)
THE IMPROPER MAINTENANCE INSTALLATION (COTTER PIN) BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. FACTORS WERE MAIN LANDING GEAR SCISSORS NOT SAFETIED PROPERLY AND EXTENSION OF LANDING GEARNOT POSSIBLE BY PILOT-IN-COMMAND (CFI).
Number of Seats: 4
Aircraft Use: INSTRUCTIONAL
Type of Operation: 14 CFR 91
Domestic/International:
Passenger/Cargo:
Registration Number: 190ND
Air Carrier Operating Certificates:
Aircraft Fire: NONE
Injuries
Fatal Serious Minor None
Crew 0 0 0 2
Pass 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0
Invlvd 0 0 0 2
Landing Gear: TRICYCLE-RETRACTABLE
Certificated Maximum Gross Weight: 3800
Engine Make: LYCOMING
Engine Model: O-360-A1H6
Number of Engines: 2
Engine Type: RECIPROCATING-CARBURETOR
Basic Weather Conditions: VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) Wind Direction (deg): 150 Wind Speed (knots): 14 Visibility (sm): 10 Visibility RVR (ft): 0 Visibility RVV (sm): 0 Cloud Height Above Ground Level (ft): 10000 Visibility Restrictions: NONE Precipitation Type: NONE Light Condition: DAYLIGHT Departure Airport Id: Departure City: Departure State: Destination Airport Id: Destination City: Destination State: Flight Plan Filed: NONE ATC Clearance: VFR VFR Approach/Landing: FULL STOP Event Location: ON AIRPORT
Certificates: COMMERCIAL
Ratings:
Plane: SINGLE ENGINE LAND, MULTIENGINE LAND, SINGLE ENGINE SEA
Non-Plane: NONE
Instrument: AIRPLANE
Had Current BFR: YES
Months Since Last BFR: 6
Medical Certificate: CLASS 1
Medical Certificate Validity: VALID MEDICAL-WITH WAIVERS/LIMITATIONS
Flight Time (Hours)
Total : 1417 Last 24 Hrs : 1
Make/Model : 120 Last 30 Days: 70
Instrument : 133 Last 90 Days: 106
Multi-Engine: 200 Rotorcraft : 0
NTSB Identification: CHI94LA087. The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System.
Accident occurred FEB-13-94 at GRAND FORKS, ND
Aircraft: PIPER PA-44-180, registration: N190ND
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
WHEN THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED FOR LANDING, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR
LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND AN UNSAFE GEAR WARNING WAS RECEIVED. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS
WERE MADE TO ASSURE THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED INCLUDING REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT
NORMAL AND EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION. UPON LANDING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED.
SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A COTTER PIN ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR
SCISSORS HAD BEEN OPEN AND CAUGHT A WIRING BUNDLE IN THE WHEEL WELL WHICH
PREVENTED THE DOWN LOCK FROM ENGAGING.
Probable Cause
the improper maintenance installation (cotter pin) by other maintenance
personnel. Factors were main landing gear scissors not safetied properly and
extension of landing gear not possible by pilot-in-command (CFI).
Full Narrative:
On February 13, 1994, at 1433 central standard time, a Piper PA- 44-180, N190ND, registered to University of North Dakota, and operated by a flight instructor and student, experienced a collapse of the right main landing gear on touchdown at the Grand Forks International Airport, Grand Forks, North Dakota. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The occupants reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local instructional flight departed Grand Forks, North Dakota, at 1345.
The instructor pilot stated that when the landing gear was extended the right main landing gear light began flashing and an unsafe gear warning light was illuminated. Several attempts were made to assure that the landing gear was extended including repeated attempts at normal and emergency gear extension. Maintenance personnel were contacted by radio in an attempt to alleviate the problem. A low pass was made over the airport to attempt to determine if the gear appeared to be extended. The tower reported that the gear appeared to be down. Upon landing the right main landing gear collapsed.
A subsequent examination revealed that a cotter pin on the right main landing gear scissors was open and caught a wiring bundle in the wheel well which prevented the down lock from engaging.
Source: National Transportation Safety Board