Grand Forks Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grandforks, North Dakota 58201
Friday, July 17, 1987 10:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS FLYING CROSS COUNTRY ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. AFTER TAKEOFF DURING GEAR RETRACTION, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE COCKPIT. UPON REACHING THE FIRST DESTINATION, THE PLT ATTEMPTED GEAR DOWN BUT GEAR DID NOT EXTEND. MANUAL EXTENSION WAS ATTEMPTED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE PLT RETURNED TO HOME AIRPORT AND MADE A GEAR UP LANDING. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED EVIDENCE OF NOSE GEAR CENTERING MECHANISM DISLODGED AND BINDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/17/1987
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GRANDFORKS
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58201
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRAND FORKS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GFK
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 844
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1416
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 18 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1002
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34723
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:35PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7722Y
NTSB Number DEN87LA185
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-30
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-30
Aircraft Serial Number 30811
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEE F SCHUMACHER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2915 S WASHINGTON
Aircraft Owner City GRAND FORKS
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58201
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LEE SCHUMACHER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1407 24 AVENUE S, SUITE 220
Operator City GRAND FORKS
Operator State ND
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 58201
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code GFK
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FAR
Destination City FARGO
Destination State ND
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 35R
Runway Length 7349
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --