Piper PA-44-180 N555HF

Summary

On 10 January 2025 at about 16:15 local time, a Piper PA-44-180 registered N555HF, operated by American Flyers Inc., was involved in an accident near Pompano Beach, Florida, United States. 2 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

10 January 2025 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Pompano Beach, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP)

Coordinates

26.2501, -80.1117

Aircraft

Piper PA-44-180

Registration

N555HF

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

2

Operator

American Flyers Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA096

Nobody was injured.

The separation of the securing hardware for the right main landing gear upper and lower torque links for undetermined reasons, which prevented extension of the right main landing gear.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Both pilots reported that after performing airwork they returned to the departure airport where multiple uneventful full stop landings were performed. They then departed and while on the base leg of the airport traffic pattern the right main landing gear did not fully extend. At that point the designated pilot examiner (DPE) took the controls from the pilot applicant, and during the course of 90 minutes, made multiple attempts to fully lower the right main landing gear that were ultimately unsuccessful. The DPE then elected to land with the landing gear retracted rather than with two landing gear down and one retracted. After touchdown the airplane came to rest near the runway centerline. The underside of the fuselage was substantially damaged during the landing. After raising the airplane from the runway, the right main landing gear was manually pulled out of the wheel well and during that process it was discovered that the hardware that secured the upper and lower torque links were not in position and could not be located. Since the hardware could not be found, no determination could be made as to the reason for the separation of the hardware. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the hardware securing the right main landing gear torque links was replaced last on about 11 months before the accident. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accrued about 324 flight hours since the hardware replacement. The mechanic who performed the last 100-Hour inspection, about 6 months and 46 hours before the accident, reported that he did not notice any abnormality or defects with the torque link bolts at that time.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.