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July 15, 2012 · Piper PA-44-180 · N580ND

Grand Forks, ND

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 15, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Grand Forks, ND
Aircraft
Piper PA-44-180
Tail Number
N580ND
Operator
University of North Dakota
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN12LA444

The pilot receiving instruction reported that during the downwind leg, after the flight instructor had simulated a single-engine failure of the twin-engine airplane, he began to fall behind on completing required checklist items, and, as result, he inadvertently forgot to extend the landing gear. He recalled hearing the landing gear warning horn while on the crosswind leg but reportedly was too distracted with flying the airplane to extend the landing gear at that point. He reported seeing sparks and hearing a grinding noise upon touchdown, at which time he also recalled hearing the landing gear warning horn. The flight instructor recalled that the airplane tail impacted the runway shortly after the pilot receiving instruction reduced engine power during the landing flare. The flight instructor noted that he heard the landing gear warning horn shortly after the airplane made contact with the runway. The airplane slid 200 to 300 feet on the lower fuselage before coming to a stop. A postaccident examination revealed that the landing gear selector handle was in the "UP" position. The landing gear extended normally into a down-and-locked position after the airplane was lifted off the ground and the landing gear selector handle was placed into the "DOWN" position. The operator reported that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented the landing gear from extending normally.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot receiving instruction's failure to extend the landing gear and the flight instructor's failure to adequately monitor his student's actions during the approach.

Full Narrative

On July 14, 2012, at 2320 central daylight time, a Piper model PA-44-180 airplane, N580ND, was substantially damaged during a wheels-up landing at Grand Forks International Airport (KGFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the University of North Dakota, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight that originated from KGFK about 2200. The flight instructor reported that the accident occurred while the pilot receiving instruction was demonstrating a landing with a simulated single engine failure of the twin-engine airplane. He recalled that the airplane tail impacted the runway shortly after the pilot receiving instruction reduced engine power during the landing flare. The flight instructor noted that he heard the landing gear warning horn shortly after the airplane made contact with the runway. The airplane slid 200 to 300 feet on the lower fuselage before coming to a stop. The pilot receiving instruction reported that during downwind, after the flight instructor had simulated the single engine failure, he began to fall behind on completing required checklist items, and as result, he inadvertently forgot to extend the landing gear. He recalled hearing the landing gear warning horn while on crosswind, but reportedly was too distracted with flying the airplane to extend the landing gear at that point. He reported seeing sparks and hearing a grinding noise upon touchdown, at which time he also recalled hearing the landing gear warning horn. A postaccident examination revealed that the landing gear selector handle was in the "UP" position. The landing gear extended uneventfully into a down-and-locked position after the airplane was lifted off the ground and the landing gear selector handle was placed into the "DOWN" position. The operator reported that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented the landing gear from extending normally. Additionally, the operator stated that several lower fuselage structural components were damaged during the wheels-up landing. The pilot receiving instruction held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. He was not endorsed to act as pilot-in-command of a complex airplane. A complex airplane is equipped with a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller. According to the operator, the pilot was receiving flight instruction towards a complex airplane endorsement in conjunction with the multi-engine training that he was receiving. He had accumulated 6 hours in a complex, multi-engine airplane when the accident occurred. At 2253, the airport's automatic weather observing station reported the following weather conditions: wind from 040 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, broken ceiling 25,000 feet, temperature 25 degrees Celsius, dew point 19 degrees Celsius, altimeter 29.99 inches of mercury.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time23:20 CDT
Nearest AirportGrand Forks International (0nm)
Runway35L
Runway Length7351 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-44-180
Tail NumberN580ND
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorUniversity of North Dakota
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1H6 · Reciprocating · 180 | Lycoming · LO-360-A1H6 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 22 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 21 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind40° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter29.98 inHg
Observation Time03:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data