Hulman Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Terre Haute, Indiana 47805
Friday, May 20, 1988 18:37 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE AIRPORT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR. THE LANDING GEAR FAILED TO RETRACT SO THE PILOT DECIDED TO EXTEND THE GEAR. THE PILOT DID NOT GET A DOWN AND LOCKED INDICATION. HE THEN PULLED THE EMERGENCY EXTENSION KNOB BUT STILL DID NOT RECEIVE A DOWN AND LOCKED INDICATION. NEXT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO 'SHAKE' THE GEAR INTO POSITION, BUT ALL ATTEMPTS FAILED. THE PILOT THEN PROCEEDED TO THE HULMAN REGIONAL AIRPORT IN TERRE HAUTE, IN, WHERE HE RECEIVED INDICATIONS FROM THE TOWER THAT THE GEAR APPEARED TO BE DOWN AND LOCKED. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM ELECTRIC MOTOR HAD FAILED. THE EMERGENCY SYSTEM FAILED BECAUSE THE MAIN LOCK HOOKS COULD NOT ENGAGE THE LOCK PINS DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION AND EXCESSIVE PAINT AND DIRT BUILD UP AROUND THE DOWN LOCK MECHANISM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1837
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City TERRE HAUTE
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47805
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HULMAN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HUF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 585
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1839 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID HUF
Elevation of weather observation facility 585
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 938
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 25 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36947
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N55786
NTSB Number CHI88LA117
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-200
Aircraft Serial Number 28R7335288
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 12 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 1524
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LARRY E REVALEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address R.R. 12 P.O. BOX 68
Aircraft Owner City BRAZIL
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47834
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LARRY E. REVALLE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address R.R. 12 P.O. BOX 68
Operator City BRAZIL
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 47834
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MTO
Departure City MATTOON
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 5299
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --