Piper PA-24-180 N6017P

Summary

On 23 May 1999 at about 23:34 local time, a Piper PA-24-180 registered N6017P was involved in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 May 1999 at 23:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Hillsboro, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Portland-Hillsboro (HIO)

Coordinates

45.5806, -122.9099

Aircraft

Piper PA-24-180

Registration

N6017P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA99LA070

Nobody was injured.

A loose alternator drive belt, and the flight crew's decision to continue flight with a known electrical system deficiency, resulting in disabling of the aircraft electrical system and landing with the gear not down-and-locked.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported noting a discharge indication on the aircraft's ammeter during flight. Despite being unable to restore a positive charge indication, the crew (a pilot undergoing a flight review and her flight instructor) elected to continue the flight. The aircraft lost electrical power on approach to the airport, and the aircraft's landing gear collapsed on landing. Although the crew reported they observed a gear-down indication prior to the loss of electrical power, a witness who observed the aircraft from a vantage point near the approach end of the runway reported that the aircraft's landing gear was not fully extended on final. The aircraft has electrically actuated retractable landing gear. A post-accident examination of the aircraft's electrical system disclosed a normally functioning alternator, an aircraft bus voltage of 11.35 volts when energized with the aircraft battery (nominally 12 volts), and a loose alternator drive belt.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.