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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 12, 2019 · Piper PA23 250 · N269KW

Charlotte Amalie

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 12, 2019
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Charlotte Amalie
Aircraft
Piper PA23 250 (1966)
Tail Number
N269KW
Operator
Executive Airshares
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA19LA279

The commercial pilot reported that while back-taxiing at night on the takeoff runway, he cycled the propeller twice, pulled the throttle back to idle, and heard an irregular noise. He then felt ground contact, consistent with the airplane’s left main landing gear collapsing. He immediately shut off the mixtures to both engines. The pilot reported that he did not recognize that the landing gear was slowly collapsing because of the dark night conditions. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Therefore, the reason for the landing gear collapse could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main landing gear-Not specified - C

Full Narrative

On September 12, 2019, at 0225 Atlantic standard time, a Piper PA23-250, N269KW, was substantially damaged while taxiing at Cyril E King Airport (TIST), Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to Executive Airshares, LLC, and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the personal flight was destined for Henry E Rohlsen Airport (TISX), St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. According to the pilot's written statement, he "added throttle to get the temp[eratures]s up" back taxiing to Runway 10. He cycled the propeller twice, pulled the throttle back to idle, heard an irregular noise and then felt ground contact. He immediately shut off the mixtures to both engines. The pilot reported that "the gear was slowly collapsing" while he was taxiing, "which could not be recognized in the dark." Inspection of the accident site and wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed a 60 to 70 ft ground scar on the runway leading to the runway edge, consistent with the left landing gear and wingtip. Ground scars were observed in the turf from the runway edge leading to where the airplane came to rest after striking a runway light. The left-wing leading edge was fractured and impact damaged in several areas and the wing spar was substantially damaged. The trailing edge of the outboard left wing displayed damage consistent with ground and runway contact. The landing gear was examined under the supervision of the FAA inspector. The inspector noted no evidence of landing gear structural damage and no malfunction of the landing gear actuator. A retraction test revealed no mechanical failures and a hydraulic pressure test revealed no anomalies. According to maintenance records, the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on July 1, 2019, at which time a landing gear retraction test was performed with no anomalies noted.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time06:25 UTC
Nearest AirportCyril E King (0nm E)
Runway10
Runway Length7000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedUnknown
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA23 250
Tail NumberN269KW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorExecutive Airshares
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-J4A5 · Reciprocating · 250 | Lycoming · IO-540-J4A5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 54 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
Wind70° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.85 inHg
Observation Time06:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data