Summary
On November 18, 2010, a Piper PA-28RT-201T (N8320H) was involved in an incident near Spring, TX. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The failure of the right landing gear down-lock mechanism to fully engage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to verify the landing gear extension due to the inoperative alternator.
Shortly after departure the single-engine airplane experienced an electrical failure. The private pilot elected to return to his departure airport for landing. The pilot performed an emergency landing gear extension; however, with no electrical power remaining, he could not verify that it was down and locked via the gear position lights. Seconds after the airplane touched down to the runway, the right landing gear collapsed. Unable to maintain directional control, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and hit a runway light, before coming to rest in an upright and right wing low position alongside the runway. The airplane’s right wing spar and right aileron were substantially damaged during the accident.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA103. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8320H.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The failure of the right landing gear down-lock mechanism to fully engage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to verify the landing gear extension due to the inoperative alternator.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
Shortly after departure the single-engine airplane experienced an electrical failure. The private pilot elected to return to his departure airport for landing. The pilot performed an emergency landing gear extension; however, with no electrical power remaining, he could not verify that it was down and locked via the gear position lights. Seconds after the airplane touched down to the runway, the right landing gear collapsed. Unable to maintain directional control, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and hit a runway light, before coming to rest in an upright and right wing low position alongside the runway. The airplane’s right wing spar and right aileron were substantially damaged during the accident. An examination of the right landing gear revealed that the downlock mechanism had not fully engaged, thus resulting in its collapse. In addition, the electrical failure was due to an inoperative alternator.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN11CA103