Casualties unknown

1986-04-07: Cessna 177RG (N35911) — Richard J. Oliver — Orlando, FL

Orlando, FL, US

On April 7, 1986, a Cessna 177RG (registration N35911) operated by Richard J. Oliver was involved in an aviation accident near Orlando, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loose alternator belt allowed the battery to drain, preventing the electric hydraulic pump from fully extending the landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During landing, the gear collapsed despite being extended on final. Investigation found a loose alternator belt drained the battery, preventing the hydraulic pump from locking the gear.

Incident Overview

The pilot reported that during the final approach, the landing gear was extended normally. However, upon touchdown, the landing gear completely collapsed. The aircraft was subsequently examined to determine the cause of the failure.

Post-Crash Examination

A post-crash examination of the aircraft revealed that the alternator belt was loose. This condition allowed the battery to discharge sufficiently that the electric hydraulic pump could not fully extend the landing gear. The landing gear had not reached its fully locked position before touchdown.

Functional Test

After the examination, the aircraft was placed on jacks and auxiliary power was applied. Under these conditions, the landing gear cycled through extension and retraction without any discrepancies, confirming that the gear system itself was functional and the issue was related to the electrical power supply.

Probable Cause

The probable cause is the loose alternator belt, which led to battery drain and resulted in the electric hydraulic pump being unable to completely extend the landing gear.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X33349. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.