Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 30 near Vero Beach, FL — 2018-06-17

Final reportERA18LA171
Sign in to save
Date
2018-06-17
Location
Vero Beach, FL, USA
Airport
VRB
Aircraft
PIPER PA 30
Registration
N8674Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The collapse of all three landing gear for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, after a local flight, he returned to his home airport and entered the right base leg of the airport traffic pattern for landing. Due to traffic ahead of him, the pilot extended the landing gear early to decrease airspeed. He confirmed that the landing gear were extended by seeing the green light indication in the cockpit and by using the reflective mirror on the left engine nacelle to see that the nose landing gear (NLG) was extended. On short final approach, the pilot again confirmed that the landing gear were extended, and the airplane touched down near the touchdown markings. The pilot added that, after about 500 ft of landing roll, the NLG collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. Examination of the wreckage revealed that all three landing gear had collapsed. Further examination of the landing gear system revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the main landing extension rods were found bent, no anomalies or damage was found that would have precluded normal operation of the landing gear. Therefore, the reason for the landing gear collapse could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have inspected landing gear before landing to ensure functionality.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

Related mishaps