Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28R-200 near Boulder City, NV — 2021-11-14

Final reportWPR22LA040
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Date
2021-11-14
Location
Boulder City, NV, USA
Airport
BVU
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28R-200
Registration
N5057S
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The installation of an improper right main landing gear door rod-end bolt, which resulted in the right main landing gear not extending during landing.

NTSB narrative

During an approach to the airport, the right main landing gear would not extend. The pilot cycled the landing gear and made several abrupt, high-G maneuvers to try and free the right main landing gear from its retracted position. Despite his actions, the right main landing gear would not extend. During the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and right wing. During the postaccident examination of the airplane, the right main landing gear wheel well exhibited mechanical damage consistent with contact from the threaded end of the right gear door rod-end bolt. The right main landing gear door rod-end bolt had about 4 additional threads than the bolt used on the left main landing gear. The bolt was removed, and its length was 1-4/25 inch, which was about 1/8 inch longer than the correctly installed bolt, which measured 1-1/32 inch. It is likely that during the accident flight, the right main landing gear could not fully extend due to the right gear door rod-end bolt positioning itself on the inside of the landing gear wheel well, preventing the landing gear from extending.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have opted for a go-around instead of attempting to land with malfunctioning gear.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

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