Pilot Debrief

BEECH 95 near Bremerton, WA — 2023-04-05

Final reportWPR23LA157
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Date
2023-04-05
Location
Bremerton, WA, USA
Airport
KPWT
Aircraft
BEECH 95
Registration
N21RS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

Failure of the down limit and down indicator switch and the warning horn switch assemblies, which prevented the landing gear from extending and at the same time providing a false indication that the landing gear was extended.

NTSB narrative

The airplane had been stored outside for a year, and the flight was the first after an annual inspection that had recently been performed. The pilot reported that while on approach to land, he had a gear safe indicator light, but upon touchdown discovered that the gear had not extended. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage at the lateral wing spar carry-through structure. Postaccident examination revealed that the landing gear down limit and down indicator switch, and the warning horn switch were both stuck in the open position. This condition provided a false gear down-and-locked indication and disabled the gear warning horn.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Performing a thorough preflight check of the landing gear system before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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