18 Nov 2010: PIPER PA-28RT-201T — STICK LARRY G

18 Nov 2010: PIPER PA-28RT-201T — STICK LARRY G

No fatalities • Spring, TX, United States

Probable cause

The failure of the right landing gear down-lock mechanism to fully engage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to verify the landing gear extension due to the inoperative alternator.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

Shortly after departure the single-engine airplane experienced an electrical failure. The private pilot elected to return to his departure airport for landing. The pilot performed an emergency landing gear extension; however, with no electrical power remaining, he could not verify that it was down and locked via the gear position lights. Seconds after the airplane touched down to the runway, the right landing gear collapsed. Unable to maintain directional control, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and hit a runway light, before coming to rest in an upright and right wing low position alongside the runway. The airplane’s right wing spar and right aileron were substantially damaged during the accident. An examination of the right landing gear revealed that the downlock mechanism had not fully engaged, thus resulting in its collapse. In addition, the electrical failure was due to an inoperative alternator.

Contributing factors

  • cause Gear extension and retract sys — Failure
  • factor generator drive sys — Failure

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 320/08kt, vis 10sm

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