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August 24, 2016 · Beech E-55 · N855T

Wichita Falls, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 24, 2016
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Wichita Falls, TX
Aircraft
Beech E-55 (1973)
Tail Number
N855T
Operator
Cobra Kai
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN16LA336

The flight instructor stated that, after the landing gear handle was placed in the gear-down position, he and the student pilot noticed electrical smoke and fumes but no fire. Although they restored electrical power, they were unable to fully extend the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-up landing. Postaccident examination of the main landing gear retraction actuator assembly revealed a broken snap ring within the manual crank extension housing, which allowed the actuator worm gear to reposition itself beyond the actuator worm sector travel limits. A review of the airplane's maintenance records found no record showing that the landing gear actuator assembly had been repaired/overhauled in accordance with the airplane maintenance manual. According to the maintenance manual, the actuator assembly is to be overhauled or replaced every 2,000 hours for gray- or green-colored assemblies. The assembly that was examined was green. The airplane had a total time of 6,184.5 hours. Given the condition of the landing gear actuator assembly, the operator should have been overhauled or replaced the actuator assembly in accordance with the manual.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the landing gear assembly snap ring, which prevented the pilot from being able to extend the landing gear and resulted in a gear-up landing. Also causal was the lack of the assembly's overhaul in accordance with the airplane maintenance manual.

Full Narrative

On August 24, 2016, about 1830 central daylight time, a Beech E-55, N855T, impacted the runway surface during a gear-up landing on runway 17 at Sheppard Air Force Base/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport (SPS), Wichita Falls, Texas. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom fuselage structure. The flight instructor and a commercial rated dual student pilot were uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Cobra Kai Inc (dba Cobra Kai Flight Academy) under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 141 as an instructional flight that was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Kickapoo Downtown Airport, Wichita Falls, Texas at 1609 and diverted to SPS. The flight instructor stated that during an approach for landing, the landing gear selection handle was placed into the gear down position, and "immediately" he and the duel student pilot noticed electrical smoke and fumes, but there was never a fire. The battery and alternator switches were selected to the off position to vent the cockpit. The flight instructor and the pilot restored electrical power and saw the landing gear up and down position indicator lights were not illuminated, and the landing gear circuit breaker was tripped. They were unable to fully extend the landing gear. The manual landing gear crank handle did not engage and spun freely in both directions and they were unable to fully extend the landing gear. They then performed a gear-up landing on runway 17. Post-accident examination by the Federal Aviation Administration of the main landing gear retraction actuator assembly revealed a broken snap ring within the manual crank extension housing that allowed the actuator worm gear to reposition itself beyond the actuator worm sector travel limits. There was no airplane maintenance record showing that the landing gear actuator assembly had been repaired/overhauled. The airplane had a total time of 6,184.5 hours. According to the Baron 55 and 58 Maintenance Manual, section 5-10-00- 601, dated April 1, 2015, TIME LIMITS/MAINTENANCE CHECKS, TIME LIMITS INSPECTION/CHECK, A. Landing Gear states that the actuator assembly is to be overhauled or replaced every 2,000 hours for gray or green colored assemblies. The assembly that was examined was green colored.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:30 CDT
Nearest AirportSheppard Air Force Base/Wichit (0nm)
Runway17
Runway Length7021 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech E-55
Tail NumberN855T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCobra Kai
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-CB · Reciprocating · 285 | Continental · IO-520-CB · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 53 · Second Class · None
Crew 2Age 41 · Unknown · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 15 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter29.96 inHg
Observation Time22:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data