Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Helena, Montana
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N326CA
Location: Billings, MT
Accident Number: WPR17LA056
Date & Time: 01/19/2017, 1148 MST
Registration: N326CA
Aircraft: BEECH 99
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Non-scheduled
On January 19, 2017 about 1148 mountain standard time, a Beech 99A airplane, N326CA, experienced a landing gear collapse while landing at the Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana. The commercial pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Alpine Aviation Inc., d.b.a. Alpine Air, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 cargo transport flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed but was not activated. The flight departed from Dawson Community Airport, Glendive, Montana about 0945, with a planned destination of Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport, Sidney, Montana.
The pilot reported that after departure, he retracted the landing gear and heard a "thud" sound. The landing gear "unsafe" light was illuminated, and the left landing gear light remained illuminated green, an indication that it was still extended despite the landing gear handle being in the retracted position. When reaching his initial destination of Sidney, the pilot performed a low pass over the runway to enable maintenance personnel on the ground to do a visual assessment. A mechanic reported to the pilot that the nose gear was in trail. The pilot diverted to Billings and the air traffic control personnel confirmed observing the nose gear extended at a 450 angle.
The pilot further stated that he aligned with runway 28R and just prior to touch down, he feathered the propellers and decreased the airspeed. During touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on the centerline. As a result of the impact, the right aileron and right-wing spar was substantially damaged.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 25, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/20/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/17/2016
Flight Time: 1419 hours (Total, all aircraft), 270 hours (Total, this make and model), 1308 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 196 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 57 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Registration: N326CA
Model/Series: 99 A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1970
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: U-135
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 12/14/2016, AAIP
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 10900 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 96 Hours
Engines: 2 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 46422 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt and Whitney
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: PT6A-28
Registered Owner: Alpine Aviation Inc
Rated Power: 750 hp
Operator: Alpine Aviation Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand Air Taxi (135)
Operator Does Business As: Alpine Air
Operator Designator Code: TIMA
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: BIL
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1853 UTC
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 10000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 12 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 230°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.49 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 4°C / -6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: GLENDIVE, MT (GDV)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: SIDNEY, MT (SDY)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0945 MST
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: BILLINGS LOGAN INTL (BIL)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 3651 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 28R
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 10518 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 45.807778, -108.542778
Tests And Research
Post-accident examination of the left landing gear actuator, part number (p/n) 99-388-008-1, revealed that it appeared to be fractured allowing the hydraulic fluid to pass freely from the downside to the upside, prohibiting pressure to control the landing gear's hydraulic system. Based on the pilots' statements about the landing, the fractured left landing gear was shipped to Textron Aviation, the airframe manufacturer, for examination. The piston rod, p/n 4A125C4, was separated into two pieces through several threads. According to the report, the damaged threads displayed crack propagation by fatigue. The final fracture was by overload and resulted in deformation of the damaged threads.
The National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory reviewed the Textron Aviation Materials report and pictures. The lab specialist reported that the fractography indicated that the piston rod failed in the threaded region by fatigue cracking over about 60% of the cross section due primarily to axial tension force. Contact wear was observed on the faying surface of the retaining nut, the shoulder of the piston rod, and on the faying surfaces of the piston head. These signatures were consistent with the nut not being tight enough to mitigate relative sliding of the piston head relative to the piston rod shoulder and the retaining nut. It could not be determined if the manufacturer required a specific torque to be applied to the nut during assembly.
The airplane operator reported that the airplane had amassed 46,416.3 hours of total time in service. According to the maintenance records, the left actuator was last overhauled in November 2001, at which time the piston rod was replaced. The operator further reported that the part had acquired 7,445.2 hours equating to 8,267 cycles. The Beechcraft Model 99 Series Maintenance Manual stated that the landing gear hydraulic actuators should be overhauled or replaced every 10,000 hours.
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Thursday, January 19, 2017 in Billings, MT
Aircraft: BEECH 99, registration: N326CA
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On January 19, 2017 about 1144 mountain standard time (mst), a Beech 99, N326CA, experienced a landing gear collapse while landing at the Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana. The airplane was registered to and operated by Alpine Aviation Inc., d.b.a. Alpine Air, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cargo transport flight departed from Dawson Community Airport, Glendive, Montana about 0945 mst with a planned destination of Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport, Sidney, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed, but was not activated.
The pilot reported that after departure, he retracted the landing gear and heard a "thud" sound. The landing gear "unsafe" light was illuminated and the left landing gear light remained illuminated green, an indication that it was still extended despite the landing gear handle being in the retracted position. When reaching his initial destination of Sidney, the pilot performed a low pass over the runway to enable maintenance personnel on the ground do a visual assessment. A mechanic stated that the nose gear was extended. The pilot diverted to Billings and the air traffic control personnel confirmed observing the nose gear extended at a 45-degree angle.
The pilot further stated that he aligned with runway 28R and just prior to touch down, he feathered the propellers and decreased the airspeed. During touchdown, the right gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest on the centerline. As a result of the impact, the right aileron and right wing spar sustained damage.
A cargo airplane was forced into an emergency landing at Billings Logan International Airport after its landing gear malfunctioned Thursday.
The Beechcraft 99 owned by Alpine Air, a company that hauls mail and freight, took off from Billings a few hours earlier. The pilot was unable to retract the landing gear after takeoff. The plane would have immediately landed, but the landing gear wouldn’t fully lower either, said Kevin Ploehn, director of aviation and transit.
The pilot remained in the air for a few hours trying to fix the issue. When the problem could not be resolved in flight, the pilot declared an emergency and returned to Billings, Ploehn said.
The aircraft performed a flyby before landing so airport personnel could determine if the landing gear was deployed. Often fuses and indicator lights fail so pilots cannot determine if they’re prepared to land. In this case observers found the front landing gear was only partially deployed and would likely collapse upon landing.
Aircraft rescue firefighters staged at the end of the runway in preparation for the emergency landing. As the airplane made its final approach, the pilot killed the engines and the Alpine Air Beechcraft touched down at about 11:45 a.m. The front and right rear landing gear failed, causing the right wing to drag on the tarmac.
Ploehn said the pilot did an outstanding job landing the airplane under difficult circumstances. He was the only occupant of the aircraft and was not injured. Emergency crews were still working about an hour later to clear the runway.
Source: http://billingsgazette.com
A small aircraft made an emergency landing at Billings Logan International Airport just before noon Thursday.
Shane Ketterling, Assistant Director of Aviation & Transit tells KULR-8 that the pilot reported that his nose gear was not locking into place while on approach to Sidney.
The pilot decided to reroute back to Billings for an emergency landing because the Billings Logan International Airport has better resources to assist in an emergency.
The plane circled the airport before making the emergency landing.
The single passenger aircraft was carrying mail The pilot walked away from the aircraft and is fine.
The emergency landing forced short delays for other incoming and outgoing flights.
The aircraft operates through Alpine Aviation which is based is Billings.
According to records obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration the plane is a Beech 99A fixed wing multi-engine aircraft.
A certificate on record with the FAA was filed on April 4th, 2004 and is current through February 29th, 2020.
Source: http://www.kulr8.com
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A small airplane made an emergency landing at Billings Logan International Airport after the landing gear malfunctioned.
The twin-engine plane had taken off from Billings with a load of mail but the plane’s landing gear was not locking into place when the plane approached Sidney.
Airport spokesman Shane Ketterling says the pilot decided to return to Billings for an emergency landing because the airport there has better resources to deal with an emergency.
The landing gear was partially deployed and it collapsed when the plane touched down at about 11:45 a.m. Thursday. The right wing dragged on the tarmac. The pilot was the only person on the plane and he was not injured.
Source: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com
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