Landing Gear Collapse: Cessna 340A, N340DW, accident occurred March 02, 2017 at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE), Broward County, Florida

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Miramar, Florida

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/N340DW

Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Accident Number: ERA17LA121
Date & Time: 03/02/2017, 1034 EST
Registration: N340DW
Aircraft: CESSNA 340
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Landing gear collapse
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Flight Test 

On March 2, 2017, about 1034 eastern standard time, a privately owned and operated Cessna 340A, N340DW, was substantially damaged when the landing gear collapsed during landing at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The local flight departed FXE about 0930. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the post maintenance test flight, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to perform a post maintenance check. He departed FXE to the northwest and performed "maneuvers and aircraft systems checks" before returning to FXE. On approach for runway 9, he observed a "three-green landing gear down indication." During the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed, the left propeller struck the runway, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and came to rest in the grass.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane had been substantially damaged. The left wing aft spar was bent, the left wing tip tank, wing flaps, and leading edge were impact damaged, and the left propeller blade tips were curled back. Further examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the left main landing gear downlock link separated. The inspector added that a previous landing gear collapse occurred in the Cayman Islands on April 21, 2014.

According to airplane maintenance records, the airplane had undergone extensive maintenance in December of 2015, including replacement of the left aileron, left inboard and outboard flaps, and removal, inspection, and servicing of all three landing gear. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on January 19, 2017. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accrued 3,977 total hours of operation. According to the Hobbs meter, the airplane had been operated 4.6 hours between the completion of the December 2015 repairs (and January 2016 annual inspection) and the most recent annual inspection. The airplane had been operated an additional 1.3 hours from the time of the most recent inspection, until the accident. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Private
Age: 78, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/14/2016
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/10/2016
Flight Time:  2089 hours (Total, all aircraft), 205 hours (Total, this make and model), 1800 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 24 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 12 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N340DW
Model/Series: 340 A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number:  340A-0497
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 01/19/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 5990 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 1 Hours
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3978 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: TSIO-520-NB
Registered Owner: SOUTHERN AIRCRAFT CONSULTANCY INC TRUSTEE
Rated Power: 310 hp
Operator: SOUTHERN AIRCRAFT CONSULTANCY INC TRUSTEE
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: FXE, 14 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1053 EST
Direction from Accident Site: 214°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 3200 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 190°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 19°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Ft Lauderdale, FL (FXE)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Ft Lauderdale, FL (FXE)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0930 EST
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: FORT LAUDERDALE EXECUTIVE (FXE)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 13 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 9
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 6002 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; 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:  26.197222, -80.170833 (est)