Accident Overview
On July 19, 2015, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Beech 35-C33, registration N829T, was substantially damaged during landing at Wilmington International Airport (ILM), Wilmington, North Carolina. The commercial pilot was not injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which departed Pilots Ridge Airport (03NC), Carolina Beach, North Carolina, about 1015. The flight was conducted under Part 91 of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for lighter-than-air balloons and a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued May 19, 2015. He reported approximately 7,600 total hours of flight experience, with 50 hours in the accident airplane make and model.
The low-wing, retractable landing gear airplane, serial number CD-821, was manufactured in 1964 and powered by a Continental Motors IO 520-series engine rated at 285 horsepower. Its most recent annual inspection was completed on June 1, 2015, at which time the airplane had accrued 3,181.0 total hours of operation.
Event Details
According to the pilot, he departed 03NC for ILM with the intent of completing several touch-and-go landings. Shortly after rotation during the takeoff from 03NC, his airspeed indicator indicated low and sporadic, but he was confident he had flying speed. The engine sounded strong, and insufficient runway remained to abort. He continued the short flight, contacted ILM air traffic control, and requested an expedited landing since the airplane did not "feel right." He kept the landing gear down and continued to ILM with a low cruise power setting. Directed to runway 24 and cleared to land, he completed his pre-landing checklist and, due to no reliable airspeed, established approach power settings. He lowered the flaps and, at 6 to 8 ft above the runway, reduced power to idle to bleed off airspeed to a near-stall touchdown. After a short time with the wheels on the runway, the landing gear "collapsed." When asked about the landing gear selector, the pilot stated he did not recall moving it.
A flight instructor who witnessed the airplane during final approach noted the landing gear was in the extended position.
Post-Accident Examination
The FAA inspector reported the nose landing gear was collapsed, the main landing gear was partially extended, and scarring of the runway surface was noted. Examination by a mechanic revealed the main landing gear inner doors were ground down, scrubbing was evident on the sides of the main tires, the nose landing gear was in its well with the actuating rod bent, and the wing roots (inboard ribs and wing structure) were substantially damaged. The mechanic stated that examination of the landing gear position and the three push-pull rods connected to the gear box indicated the landing gear had not collapsed but had been in "transition" when the airplane touched down. The inboard main landing gear doors were open, and the landing gear circuit breaker was tripped. There was no evidence of pre-accident malfunction, and the mechanic was able to extend the landing gear manually.
According to the airplane's pilot operating handbook (POH), Section IV, "Normal Procedures" stated in the before landing checklist: "Landing Gear – DOWN and CHECK." Section VII described the landing gear system: operated through adjustable linkage connected to an actuator assembly driven by an electric motor, with emergency manual extension. Landing gear position indicator lights show red (up) or green (down) when the actuator reaches either extreme, and a mechanical indicator shows nose gear position. The POH also stated that the landing gear circuit breaker will pop out under overload conditions.