Piper PA-30 N22HW

Summary

On 31 August 2007 at about 20:00 local time, a Piper PA-30 registered N22HW was involved in an accident near Lawrence, Kansas, United States. One person was 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

31 August 2007 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lawrence, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Lawrence Municipal (LWC)

Coordinates

39.0111, -95.2164

Aircraft

Piper PA-30

Registration

N22HW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Topeka → Lawrence

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN07LA160

Nobody was injured.

Total failure of the landing gear retraction/extension assembly. Contributing factors in this accident were worn parts in the landing gear retraction/extension assembly, and mechanical binding of the extension assembly.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said he had made approximately 5 touch-and go landings at one airport before flying home. When he lowered the landing gear in preparation for landing, he noticed in the engine nacelle mirror that the landing gear was approximately one-third extended. The pilot departed the airport area to troubleshoot the problem. During his initial attempt at lowering the landing gear manually, he noticed that the main landing gear circuit breaker had tripped. After several attempts to extend the landing gear manually, it extended about two-thirds of the way. The pilot then "pushed the gear down entirely" and a GEAR SAFE annunciation was illuminated. He confirmed gear extension by seeing it in the engine nacelle mirror. The pilot landed the airplane but during the landing rollout, the right main landing gear collapsed. Post-accident examination revealed the right wing was scraped, and the aileron and flap were damaged and had to be replaced. In addition, the right main gear pushrod was bent and had pushed against and bent the support web in the wheel well. Further examination of the landing gear revealed many parts worn and beyond their service life.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.