The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Fairbanks, Alaska
Hageland Aviation Services; Anchorage, Alaska
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
IceCap LLC Trustee
Hageland Aviation Services doing business as RavnAir Connect
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Accident Number: ANC20LA013
Date and Time: January 12, 2020, 12:23 Local
Registration: N4112K
Aircraft: Piper PA31
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Aircraft maintenance event
Injuries: 8 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi and commuter - Scheduled
Factual Information
On January 12, 2020, about 1223 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N4112K, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident at Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), Fairbanks, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and seven passengers were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 scheduled commuter flight.
The pilot reported that as the airplane approached the destination airport, the landing gear did not extend, the landing gear indicator lights did not illuminate, and the selector did not return to the neutral position. She repeated the landing gear extension procedures again; however, the landing gear still did not extend. She then checked that all the circuit breakers were in and used the checklist to perform the emergency landing gear extension procedure. The pilot pumped the hand-operated emergency gear extender about 70 times, but there was low feedback pressure in the system. When the landing gear still did not extend, she diverted back to FAI, where emergency services and a maintenance crew were available.
As the airplane approached FAI, the pilot activated the emergency blowdown pneumatic system for both the main and nose landing gear. The green down-and-locked indicator lights for the nose and left main landing gear illuminated, but the right main landing gear (MLG) light did not illuminate. The pilot performed a fly-by of the control tower and the tower controller reported that the right MLG door was open, but the gear remained retracted. The pilot then flew to a nearby training area, climbed to 5,000 ft, and attempted to swing the right MLG out with higher-G maneuvers, but was unsuccessful.
The pilot performed a straight-in visual approach to FAI runway 2L. Once the landing was assured, she shut down and secured both engines. During the landing roll, the right wing impacted the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. All occupants evacuated normally.
The airplane was recovered to the company hangar, where a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the hydraulic system. The hydraulic reservoir was almost depleted and minimal fluid existed in the system. After servicing and testing the hydraulic system, a leak was observed at the fitting between the right main landing gear door close line and the right MLG unlock actuator. The hydraulic line was removed, and the threads on the actuator assembly connection were stripped. The fitting was capped and the system functioned normally.
The company also tested the pneumatic blowdown system and discovered that the right MLG shuttle valve was stuck in place. The shuttle valve was removed and disassembled, and water and corrosion were present inside.
According to the maintenance records, all of the landing gear hydraulic lines were replaced during a recent phase inspection about one week before the accident.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Airline transport; Commercial
Age: 58, Female
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: August 29, 2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: October 29, 2019
Flight Time: 25055 hours (Total, all aircraft), 19025 hours (Total, this make and model), 24055 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 89 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 21 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age:
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age:
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age:
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: None (Baby)
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age:
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age:
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age:
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age:
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Other Passengers
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N4112K
Model/Series: PA31 350
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
1982 Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 31-8353006
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 10
Date/Type of Last Inspection: January 7, 2020 AAIP
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 7368 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 33715.6 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: TIO-540-J2B
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 350 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Commuter air carrier (135)
Operator Does Business As: RavnAir Connect
Operator Designator Code: EPUA
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PAFA, 432 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 20:53 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 199°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 8000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: Turbulence Severity
Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.15 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: -34°C / -39°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Fairbanks, AK (FAI)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Destination: Galena, AK (GAL)
Type of Clearance: VFR flight following
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace: Class D
Airport Information
Airport: Fairbanks Intl FAI
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 439 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Snow
Runway Used: 02L
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 11800 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop; Straight-in
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 7 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 8 None
Latitude, Longitude: 64.811668,-147.86972(est)
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