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NTSB Report

September 22, 2001 · Piper PA-32R-300 · N4352F

Tanana, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 22, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Tanana, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-32R-300
Tail Number
N4352F
Operator
Tanana Air Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC01LA145

The certificated commerical pilot was about 26 miles from his destination airport when be began to note telltale signs of an electrical failure. The airplane's instrument panel-mounted ammeter indicated zero, and the pilot shut off all of the airplane's electrical equipment. When he arrived at the destination airport, he placed the landing gear extension handle in the down position, but the gear failed to extend, and the gear down lights did not illuminate. The pilot followed the flight manual procedures for an emergency gear extension by slowing the airplane to 87 knots, holding the landing emergency gear lever in the "EMERGENCY DOWN position, while fish-tailing the airplane. In an attempt to determine if the landing gear was down, he checked the airplane's shadow and noted that the gear appeared to be down. During touchdown the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the surface of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the voltage regulator failed, which subsequently led to the loss of electrical power. The accident airplane is equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear, which is hydraulically actuated by an electrically powered reversible pump. Use of the emergency extension handle manually releases hydraulic pressure, allowing the landing gear to free fall, to the down position. In the case of a complete electrical failure, the landing gear down lights will not illuminate.

NTSB Probable Cause

An unlocked landing gear mechanism during landing roll. A factor associated with the accident was an electrical system failure.

Full Narrative

On September 21, 2001, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-32R-300 airplane, N4352F, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Tanana Airport, Tanana, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand charter flight transporting mail under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was owned by Harold Esmailka, and operated by Tanana Air Service, Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company visual flight rules (VFR) flight following procedures were in effect for the flight from Fairbanks to Tanana. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on October 2, the director of operations for the operator reported that while en route to Tanana, the accident pilot's intended destination, all electrical power was lost. He added that the accident pilot elected to proceed to his destination, and during the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed. He said that the left wing struck the surface of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the left main wing spar, and two nose ribs. The pilot submitted a written report to the NTSB dated October 12, 2001. In his written statement, the pilot reported that when he was about 26 miles from the Tanana Airport, be began to note telltale signs of an electrical failure. He added that the airplane's instrument panel-mounted ammeter indicated zero, so he shut off all of the airplane's electrical equipment. He noted that when he arrived at the destination airport, he placed the landing gear extension handle in the down position, but the gear failed to extend, and the landing gear down lights did not illuminate. He reported that he followed the flight manual procedures for an emergency gear extension by slowing the airplane to 87 knots, holding the landing emergency gear lever in the "EMERGENCY DOWN position, while fish-tailing the airplane. In an attempt to determine if the landing gear was down, he checked the airplane's shadow and noted that the gear appeared to be down. During touchdown the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the surface of the runway. The Piper PA-32R-300 is equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear, which is hydraulically actuated by an electrically powered reversible pump. The emergency landing gear extension handle, when used for emergency extension of the landing gear, manually releases hydraulic pressure to permit the gear to free fall with spring assistance on the nose gear. In the case of a complete electrical failure, the landing gear down lights will not illuminate. A Federal Aviation Administration, Airworthiness Inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office, reported that a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the voltage regulator failed, which subsequently led to the loss of electrical power.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:30 AKDT
Nearest AirportTANANA (0nm)
Runway24
Runway Length4400 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32R-300
Tail NumberN4352F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorTanana Air Service
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K1A5D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 55 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data