Accident Overview
On July 21, 2008, at approximately 1430 mountain daylight time, a Beech A200 (registration N11) experienced a partial landing gear malfunction during a local FAA currency flight, resulting in a gear-up landing at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah. The FAA was operating the public-use airplane under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Flight Crew
The two airline transport pilots were uninjured. The pilot-in-command, a 47-year-old FAA Aviation Safety Inspector/Instructor pilot, held an airline transport pilot certificate with multi-engine and instrument ratings, and a CFI certificate. He reported 3,750 total flight hours, with 73 hours in the previous 90 days and 64 hours in the accident make and model. The second pilot, also an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, reported 4,900 total hours, with 10 hours in the previous 90 days and 64 hours in the make and model.
Aircraft Information
The airplane, a Beech A200 serial number BD-001, had accumulated 7,418 total airframe hours and 9,518 landings at the time of the accident. Maintenance records showed no unresolved discrepancies prior to departure.
Sequence of Events
The flight departed SLC at approximately 1412. After takeoff, the pilot-in-command selected the gear-up handle. The three green landing gear lights extinguished and the red gear transit light illuminated, but the landing gear did not retract. Attempts to recycle the gear failed to achieve a down-and-locked indication. The crew returned to SLC and performed a low approach, during which tower personnel reported that the gear appeared to be down. The pilots then attempted a landing on runway 35. At about 45 knots after touchdown, the main landing gear partially retracted; the nose gear remained extended. The airplane slid down the runway, sustaining substantial damage to the lower fuselage.
Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder
The airplane was equipped with a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and a Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), both of which were removed and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Division. The recorders provided good information. The CVR recording captured the entire flight from just before takeoff until shutdown, documenting crew coordination and communications with air traffic control. The crew did not attempt manual gear extension.
Wreckage Examination and Tests
Examination of the airplane revealed extensive scraping damage to the lower fuselage, flaps, antennae, and belly light. Both left and right landing gear actuator nuts were found fractured from supporting the airplane's weight. The left and right landing gear support brackets were damaged, and evidence of damage to the right wing front spar web at the landing gear connection was noted. The crossover shafts from the landing gear motor to the main gear rotated smoothly. The 60-amp thermal circuit breaker for the landing gear motor had tripped. The landing gear motor and transmission were recovered for further examination.
Subsequent inspection at an FAA maintenance facility revealed that approximately 60% of the sprocket teeth were worn and chipped, one sprocket shaft was not fully squared with the gear, and at least one hanger bearing showed edge wear from chain rubbing due to sprocket wear and misalignment.
Additional Information
On April 14, 2008, the same airplane had experienced a similar landing gear malfunction during FAA training in Dothan, Alabama, but was landed safely after manual gear extension. The on-board checklist contained guidance for manual gear extension, but the accident flight crew did not perform that procedure.