Cessna 172RG N9985B

Summary

On 15 November 2012 at about 00:27 local time, a Cessna 172RG registered N9985B, operated by Eastern Kentucky University, was involved in an accident near Lexington, Kentucky, United States. 2 people were 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

15 November 2012 at 00:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Blue Grass Airport (LEX)

Coordinates

38.0353, -84.6053

Aircraft

Cessna 172RG

Registration

N9985B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Eastern Kentucky University

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Richmond → Lebanon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ERA13LA058

Nobody was injured.

The rupture of the landing gear’s hydraulic pressure hose, which resulted in the depletion of all of the hydraulic fluid, and the inability of the landing gear to raise or lower. Contributing to the accident was the installation of an unapproved hydraulic hose by unknown maintenance personnel.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Upon arrival at the intended destination airport during an instructional flight, the pilot receiving instruction attempted to extend the airplane's landing gear. Only the nose gear and the left main landing gear extended and locked in the down position. Both pilots reported they attempted to retract the landing gear; however, the left main landing gear remained in the down and locked position and the nose landing gear's position could not be determined. The flight instructor reported that he performed the emergency gear extension procedure specified in the airplane's flight manual, but the right main landing gear did not extend or lock into position. The pilots elected to divert to a nearby airport. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the elevator. An examination of the airplane revealed that a landing gear pressure hose had ruptured and the hydraulic fluid was depleted. It was constructed of material similar to that used in the automotive industry, thus, the hose likely was not an approved airplane part. No logbook entry was provided that disclosed when the hose was replaced or inspected. Because of the rupture, the lack of hydraulic fluid within the system precluded the right main landing gear from extending and locking as well as the left main and nose landing gear from retracting.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.