Kent County International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501
Tuesady, March 14, 1995 22:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED HE HEARD A 'SNAP' AT THE END OF THE GEAR RETRACTION SEQUENCE AFTER TAKING OFF. HE STATED ALL GEAR LIGHTS INDICATED THAT THE GEAR WAS STOWED PROPERLY. AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO EXTEND THE GEAR MANUALLY, BUT THERE WAS NO TENSION ON THE HANDCRANK. UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE PILOT LANDED GEAR UP. A POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED A BUSHING (P/N 35- 810077-3) FOR THE ACTUATOR WORM GEAR HAD FRACTURED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of the landing gear bushing for the actuator worm gear which resulted in both the normal and emergency gear extension systems being inoperative.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2245
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City GRAND RAPIDS
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49501
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KENT COUNTY INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GRR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 765
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2250 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GRR
Elevation of weather observation facility 794
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 570
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 21 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1414
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N930DP
NTSB Number CHI95LA109
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 58
Aircraft Series Identifier 58
Aircraft Serial Number TH-729
Certified Max Gross Weight 5400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 6081
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WELCH AVIATION INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ALPENA COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City ALPENA
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49707
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code JXN
Departure City JACKSON
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1930
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code GRR
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 10000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --