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March 22, 2010 · Williams Yakovlev YAK 3UPW · N153U

Half Moon Bay, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 22, 2010
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Half Moon Bay, CA
Aircraft
Williams Yakovlev YAK 3UPW
Tail Number
N153U
Operator
James a Williams
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR10LA173

Prior to landing the pilot observed 3 green lights indicating that the landing gear was down and locked. During the landing roll the left main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that a postaccident examination of the left main landing gear's pneumatic actuator revealed that the actuator's down-lock ball track was contaminated with dirt and that the steel down-lock balls were corroded. The combination of dirt in the actuator's down-lock track, the corroded down-lock balls, and the low down-lock pressure likely caused the gear to collapse.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of left main landing gear actuator to lock in the down position due to low down-lock pressure as a result of a contaminated down-lock track and corroded down-lock balls.

Full Narrative

On March 22, 2010, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Willams Yakovlev 3UPW, N153U, sustained substantial damage following the collapse of the left main landing gear during landing roll at the Half Moon Bay Airport (HAF), Half Moon Bay, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The airplane departed HAF about 1420. In a statement submitted to the Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that after taking off and returning to the airport traffic pattern, he extended the landing gear. The pilot stated, “Everything was in the green. Three lights for the gear and mechanical indicators showing the gear down. I made a normal landing, and when the full weight of the plane was on the mains the left [landing] gear collapsed.” The pilot added that the airplane went off the left side of the runway and came to rest on a heading of 120 degrees after landing on runway 30. The pilot reported that the outer one-third of the left wing, the left aileron and the left flap were bent. The pilot further reported that the propeller blades were bent, the tail wheel had broken off, and the left landing gear doors were bent. The pilot revealed that the airplane was manufactured in 1995 and not assembled until 2005, when he purchased it. On April 27, 2010, under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, a FAA certified airframe and powerplant mechanic conducted a teardown examination of the airplane’s left main landing gear pneumatic actuator. After removing the actuator and applying shock air to the component, the mechanic reported that operation of the actuator appeared to be normal, with no internal or external leaks noted. The mechanic stated that downline air pressure normally forces the down lock balls into the down lock track to lock the actuator in the down position. When the actuator was disassembled, the mechanic reported that he observed that the actuator’s down lock ball track was contaminated with dirt and that the steel down lock balls were corroded. The mechanic stated, "I believe a combination of dirt in the down lock track, corroded down lock balls, and low down lock pressure caused the gear to collapse.” The FAA inspector reported that he concurred with the mechanic’s statement.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 PDT
Nearest AirportHalf Moon Bay (0nm)
Runway30
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftWilliams Yakovlev YAK 3UPW
Tail NumberN153U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJames a Williams
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · R-1830 · Reciprocating · 1400
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 74 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 15 kt, gusting 21 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 48
Altimeter30.06 inHg
Observation Time21:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data