Casualties unknown

1989-05-06: Piper PA-24 (N550V) — Samual Powell — Montague, CA

Montague, CA, US

On May 6, 1989, a Piper PA-24 (registration N550V) operated by Samual Powell was involved in an aviation accident near Montague, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Insufficient adjustment between the landing gear transmission and gear motor, causing the gear motor to bind and the circuit breaker to pop. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

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

An airplane landed with its landing gear retracted. Investigation found the gear motor circuit breaker had popped due to binding from insufficient adjustment between the transmission and gear motor.

Incident Overview

An airplane experienced a landing with its landing gear retracted. The aircraft had recently undergone replacement of the landing gear transmission as well as maintenance on the gear system. Following the landing, the aircraft was lifted from the runway, and the landing gear was extended manually.

Post-Accident Examination

A post-accident investigation revealed that the gear motor circuit breaker had popped. Further examination indicated that the gear motor was binding due to insufficient adjustment between the transmission and the gear motor. This binding caused the circuit breaker to trip, preventing the gear from extending electrically.

Manual Extension System

The airplane is equipped with a manual extension system that also serves as a secondary gear position indicator. When the landing gear is moving via electrical actuation, the manual extension system moves simultaneously. In this instance, the manual extension functioned as intended after the aircraft was raised from the runway, allowing the gear to be extended manually.

Findings

The investigation identified that the binding of the gear motor, resulting from inadequate adjustment between the newly installed transmission and the gear motor, was the direct cause of the circuit breaker activation. No other contributing factors were cited in the source.

Probable cause

Insufficient adjustment between the landing gear transmission and gear motor, causing the gear motor to bind and the circuit breaker to pop.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X28343. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.