Landing gear malfunction leads to runway excursion

Casualties unknown • Fayetteville, AR, US

A pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing on a grass surface after the right main landing gear failed to extend and lock during approach.

What happened

Following a four-hour cross-country flight, the pilot received an unsafe gear indication while extending the landing gear during the approach to the destination. Upon inspection, the pilot confirmed that the right main landing gear remained unlocked and was only partially extended.

The crew attempted to rectify the situation by following the established emergency gear extension procedures, but these efforts were unsuccessful. Due to the configuration of the gear, the pilot elected to land on a grass area located to the east of the active runway. During the landing, the nose gear and left main gear were fully extended, while the right gear remained partially extended.

After touching down on the locked gear components, the aircraft rolled and skidded for 1,300 feet before coming to a complete stop. There were not injured during the incident.

The investigation

A post-accident examination of the landing gear system determined that the right main landing gear failed to reach the fully extended and locked position. Further inspection of the aircraft revealed that the emergency gear extension valve malfunctioned, preventing the successful deployment of the gear via emergency means.

Probable cause

The failure of the right main landing gear to fully extend and lock due to a malfunction in the emergency gear extension valve.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1995-08-19 Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Fayetteville, AR?

A pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing on a grass surface after the right main landing gear failed to extend and lock during approach.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1995-08-19 involved a Piper PA-32R-300, registration N47423, at Fayetteville, AR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The failure of the right main landing gear to fully extend and lock due to a malfunction in the emergency gear extension valve.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X04254. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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