Beechcraft BE99 N899AE

Summary

On 10 April 2011 at about 15:45 local time, a Beechcraft BE99 registered N899AE, operated by Skydive Georgia, was involved in an accident near Cedartown, Georgia, 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

10 April 2011 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Cedartown, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Polk County Airport- Cornelius (4A4)

Coordinates

34.0178, -85.1411

Aircraft

Beechcraft BE99

Registration

N899AE

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Skydive Georgia

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Skydiving

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cedartown → Cedartown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11LA239

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the left main landing gear bearings and supports due to inadequate lubrication by unknown maintenance personnel.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot received an unsafe landing gear indication for the left main landing gear when he configured the airplane for landing. He cycled the gear and then attempted a manual extension, both without success. The pilot then completed the landing on the nose and right main landing gear. A postaccident examination of the left main landing gear actuator revealed that the supports for the actuator bearings lacked lubrication and that the bearings displayed wear due to inadequate lubrication. The overhauled actuator had accumulated 377.5 hours and 285 cycles since overhaul and was installed about 31 months before the accident; the manufacturer's maintenance manual prescribed lubrication of the retract actuator and actuator support bearings every 1,000 cycles or 30 months (whichever occurs first). It could not be determined if inadequate lubrication was applied at installation or if a loss of lubrication was not detected in subsequent inspections. The manufacturer’s maintenance manual cautioned: "When washing the airplane with soap and water, use special care to avoid washing grease away from lubricated area. After washing the wheel well areas with solvent, lubricate all lubrication points. Premature wear of the lubricated surfaces may result if these precautions are not observed."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.