Pontiac, MI, USA
N36458
PIPER PA 28R-201
While conducting touch-and-go landings and as the private pilot landed the airplane for the third time, the right main landing gear and nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing was partially separated from the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that maintenance personnel had improperly secured an unused instrument lamp socket during recent maintenance, which allowed an electrical short of the landing gear controls. The landing gear control circuit breaker tripped, which stopped the landing gear from fully extending while it was transitioning to the down position. It also rendered the landing gear indicators and warnings inoperative so the pilot was unaware the landing gear was not fully extended.
On April 9, 2017, about 1015 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201 airplane, N36458, experienced a landing gear collapse at the Oakland County International Airport (KPTK), Pontiac, Michigan. The pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to IXI LLC and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan.While conducting touch and go landings, the pilot landed the airplane for the third time when the right main landing gear and nose landing gear collapsed. The right wing was partially separated from the airplane resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector found an unused instrument lamp socket was improperly secured during recent maintenance allowing it to short the landing gear controls. The landing gear control circuit breaker was tripped, stopping the landing gear from transitioning to the down position and the landing gear indicators and warnings became inoperative. No other anomalies were found with the airplane.
Maintenance personnel’s improper securing of an unused instrument lamp socket during recent maintenance, which resulted in an electrical short of the landing gear controls and stopped the landing gear while it was transitioning to the down position and led to the landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
