Page 86 - EAA78.Newsletter.Archives.(February.2017-July.2021)

CHAPTER CHATTER, EAA Chapter 78 11

Delay in lowering landing gear bends Beech Therefore, it is possible that the pilot was distracted by
the approaching thunderstorm, which led to his
completing the before landing checklist too late during
the approach for the landing gear to fully extend before
landing.

Probable Cause: The pilot’s delayed completion of the
before landing checklist, including the extension of the
landing gear, during an approaching thunderstorm,
which resulted in a landing with the landing gear in
transit and the subsequent collapse of the landing
gear.

NTSB Identification: ERA15LA249

This June 2015 accident report is provided by
the National Transportation Safety Board.
Published as an educational tool, it is intended to
help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

According to the pilot, after receiving clearance to land
at the airport in Clearwater, Florida, he completed the
before landing checklist. He added that, during the
Quiz: Can You
touchdown, the Beech B55’s landing gear collapsed.
According to photographs provided by the airport
authority, the airplane came to rest on its belly with the Answer These 6
right main and nose landing gears collapsed and the
left main landing gear partially extended. Aerodynamics

Post-accident examination of the landing gear system Questions?
revealed that the outer sidewall of each main landing
gear tire exhibited scuff marks and that the main
landing gear door was scraped.

Further examination revealed that both of the main
landing gear extension rods were bent at the assembly
actuator and that the nose landing gear
extension/retraction rod was fractured.

This evidence is consistent with a landing attempt with
the landing gear in transit rather than fully extended as
reported by the pilot.

The recorded weather at the time of the accident
indicated that thunderstorms existed near the airport,
and photographs taken shortly after the accident show
thunderstorms at the airport.