Puerto Rico International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Juan
Monday, June 24, 1985 17:39 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER DEPARTURE THE NOSE GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED PETER GEAR RETRACTION. ATTEMPTS TO GET A SAFE LIGHT ON THE NOSE GEAR IN THE EXTENDED POSITION WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IT SETTLED ONTO A PARTIALLY RETRACTED NOSE GEAR. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE NOSE GEAR STRUT HAD NOT FULLY EXTENDED AND THAT WHEN THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED THE NOSE GEAR TIRES CAUGHT THE NOSE GEAR DOORS PREVENTING THEM FROM OPENING. THE GEAR RETRACTED AGAINST THE GEAR DOORS CAUSING FAILURE OFTHE RETRACT JACKSCREW. A MICROSWITCH WHICH CUTS THE GEAR MOTOR OFF WHEN THIS CONDITION OCCURRS WAS FOUND OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AND DID NOT OPERATE. ADDITIONALLY IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MECHANICS WHO DID THE LAST GEAR RETRACT TEST ON THE AIRCRAFT USED A MAINTENANCE MANUAL FOR AN EARLIER MODEL AIRCRAFT WHICH DID NOT HAVE THIS SAFETY SWITCH THUS FAILING TO CHECK IT FOR ADJUSTMENT. NO REASON AS TO WHY THE NOSE GEAR STRUT DID NOT FULLY EXTEND WAS FOUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 6/24/1985
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1739
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City SAN JUAN
Event State PUERTO RICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00913
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PUERTO RICO INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SJU
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 9
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1808 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SJU
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5034
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 25 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28889
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7DD
NTSB Number MIA85IA203
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MITSUBISHI
Aircraft Model MU-2K
Aircraft Series Identifier MU-2K
Aircraft Serial Number 297
Certified Max Gross Weight 9920
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 9
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection May 20 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 2170
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EXECUTIVE AIRLINE & CHARTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address MUNOZ MARIN INT'L AIRPORT
Operator City ISLA VERDE
Operator State PR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 00913
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 Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code STT
Departure City ST.THOMAS
Departure State VI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone AST
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 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 8000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --