Accident Overview
On Saturday, February 11, 2017, at about 11:00 JST, a privately owned Beechcraft 35-C33A, registered JA3357, experienced a landing gear retraction during the landing roll at Oshima Airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but no persons were injured.
Flight History
The flight departed from Honda Airport in Saitama Prefecture at approximately 10:25 for a familiarization flight. The pilot headed toward Oshima Airport and contacted the Oshima Radio mobile communication station about 25 nautical miles from the airport. At around 10:55, the pilot reported being 5 nautical miles north of the airport and extended the landing gear, confirming down-lock via the mechanical indicator and position lights. The wind was reported as 250° at 17 knots, later updated to 260° at 13 knots. The pilot noted turbulence from a hill called Chigasaki and adjusted the descent rate. The aircraft touched down smoothly near the touchdown mark with flaps fully extended.
Accident Sequence
During the landing roll, the pilot maintained engine power at 1,200 rpm to avoid rapid deceleration due to a following aircraft. While considering whether to raise the flaps, the nose dropped suddenly. The propellers contacted the ground, the engine stopped, and the pilot heard intermittent sounds resembling a warning horn. The aircraft came to a halt with the nose landing gear retracted, the left main gear partially retracted, and the right main gear slightly retracted. The nose section was in contact with the runway.
Aircraft Damage
The nose section sustained propeller bending, scratches on the lower surface, and keel deformation. The nose landing gear tires were damaged, the retract rod was deformed and broken, and the landing gear door was deformed. The left main landing gear door was deformed, and the left main tire had scratch marks on the outer edge. The aircraft was moved by crane to an apron for examination.
Investigation Findings
The landing gear position switch had a detent mechanism that functioned normally. The landing gear warning horn and safety switch operated correctly in ground and air simulations. The landing gear extension/retraction mechanism worked when the safety switch was set to air mode. The circuit breaker for the landing gear motor had tripped post-accident. A maintenance test flight on January 16, 2017, had confirmed normal landing gear system operation. The pilot reported no memory of moving the landing gear switch upward but could not be certain.
Meteorological Conditions
At 11:00, routine weather observation recorded wind from 250° at 10 knots, variable between 210° and 290°, visibility 10 km or more, clouds at 3,000 feet (1/8 coverage, cumulus), temperature 8°C, dew point -6°C, and altimeter setting 29.78 inHg. Instantaneous wind readings near runway 21 showed gusts up to 21 knots.
Accident Site
The aircraft came to rest approximately 755 meters from the runway 21 threshold, near the centerline. Propeller slash marks and nose scratches extended about 50 meters from the final position. The landing gear was partially retracted, and the nose was on the ground.
Personnel Information
The pilot, a 48-year-old male, held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land rating, issued March 19, 2000. His specific pilot competency assessment was valid until November 28, 2017, and his Class 2 medical certificate was valid until October 31, 2018. Total flight time was 413 hours 36 minutes, with 160 hours 23 minutes on the accident aircraft type and 4 hours 18 minutes in the preceding 30 days.
Aircraft Information
The Beechcraft 35-C33A, serial number CE-175, was manufactured September 18, 1967. It held a Certificate of Airworthiness (No. Dai-2016-585) valid until January 15, 2018. Total flight time was 4,119 hours 08 minutes. At accident weight (estimated 2,530 lb), weight and balance were within limits.