Piper PA-34-200 N15723

Summary

On 1 December 2002 at about 16:38 local time, a Piper PA-34-200 registered N15723 was involved in an accident near Jeffersonville, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 December 2002 at 16:38

Classification

Accident

Location

Jeffersonville, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Clark County Airport (JVY)

Coordinates

38.3650, -85.7383

Aircraft

Piper PA-34-200

Registration

N15723

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Louisville → Jeffersonville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA032

Nobody was injured.

The mechanical binding of the left main landing gear, which resulted in the left main landing gear not fully extending to the down-and-locked position. Factors to the accident were the oleo-strut linkage being corroded and the contamination of the gear position switches.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The main landing gear collapsed during landing rollout. The pilot reported that when he selected 'gear down' the in-transit light illuminated and when the landing gear had extended the three landing gear position lights illuminated. The pilot reported the in-transit light did not remain illuminated after the landing gear had extended. The pilot stated there was "no gear warning indication or horn sounding." The pilot reported a normal landing was made and prior to the first taxiway both main landing gear collapsed. The pilot stated when the main landing gear collapsed the in-transit light illuminated and landing gear warning horn sounded. The pilot reported the three landing gear position lights remained illuminated after the aircraft came to rest. The airplane was elevated for an operational test of the landing gear. During normal gear extension the nose and right main landing gear extended as designed. The left main landing gear extended approximately 3/4 down before becoming mechanically bound. The nose and right main landing gear position lights illuminated. The left main landing gear position light did not illuminate. The left main landing gear could be forced into the down-and-locked position and the gear position light would illuminate. The linkage between the left oleo strut assembly and the gear was corroded and dirt was present on the landing gear position switches. The linkage was disconnected and the left main landing gear moved freely.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.