Pilot Debrief

Rogers Rutan Defiant 40 near Phoenix, AZ — 2010-04-29

Final reportWPR10LA219
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Date
2010-04-29
Location
Phoenix, AZ, USA
Airport
DVT
Aircraft
Rogers Rutan Defiant 40
Registration
N23TR
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to ensure that the landing gear extension handle was firmly placed in the down position prior to landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while on base leg he initiated a landing check and lowered the nose landing gear. Following initial touchdown and immediately upon placing weight on the nose gear, the nose of the airplane settled to the ground and the nose gear handle quickly popped out of the down position. During a postaccident examination of the airplane, a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector reported that the nose gear may not have been "positively" down and locked as witnessed by the alignment/witness marks. The inspector stated that when placing the gear handle down, but not “hard,” the gear indication could appear to be down and locked, but the gear could actually not be in the down and locked position. The inspector added that during the examination the gear system was operated several times. Each time if the gear handle was not placed down “firmly and hard” the alignment marks were not indicating a “SAFE” condition. The pilot further added that the mechanical alignment arrows are down by the right ankle of the pilot. In this location, an arrow misalignment is extremely difficult to perceive and the nose gear could easily be placed in "transition" vice down and locked. The pilot reported that he has since redesigned the nose gear down-and-locked indicator to be more easily viewed.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have ensured nose gear was positively down and locked before landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

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