Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 31-310 near Jeffersonville, IN — 2017-12-04

Final reportCEN18LA048
Sign in to save
Date
2017-12-04
Location
Jeffersonville, IN, USA
Airport
JVY
Aircraft
PIPER PA 31-310
Registration
N722CF
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The right main landing gear’s failure to fully extend for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident testing revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

When the airplane was about 5 miles from the airport, the commercial pilot lowered the landing gear and noted that the right main landing gear (MLG) was slow to extend, but within a few seconds, all three gear down indicator lights illuminated. The airplane descended normally, and when it was above the runway about to flare, the right MLG indicator light extinguished. The pilot initiated a go-around, increased engine power, pitched for climb, and retracted the MLG and flaps. The airplane likely settled after the flaps were retracted, and the pilot heard a noise similar to a propeller blade contacting something. The pilot decided to abort the go-around and landed the airplane straight ahead. The airplane came to a stop on the runway with the MLG retracted. Postaccident MLG retraction tests were performed satisfactorily, and no defects were noted. Based on the available information, the reason that the right MLG did not fully extend and lock could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing earlier when right gear light went out.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

Related mishaps