Renton Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Renton, Washington 98055
Friday, July 4, 2003 11:18 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the airplane experienced an electrical malfunction 2-3 minutes after takeoff. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to reset the electrical system, the pilot attempted to manually lower the landing gear in preparation for a landing. He reported that he was able to actuate the manual gear extension handle, however, the landing gear would not fully extend and lock. After multiple additional attempts to fully lower the gear, the pilot initiated a landing with the main landing gear in the midrange position. Examination of the landing gear system by representatives from the NTSB and FAA revealed that the landing gear actuator housing fractured, and separated from the gearbox. Damage was also noted to the actuator drive coupling. Representatives from the FAA and the manufacturer of the gear assembly conducted the teardown and examination of the electric landing gear actuator motor. During the examination, 14 volts was applied to the actuator motor in an attempt to functionally test the DC motor. The electric motor did not respond, or draw current. Further examination of the motor revealed that the two brushes in the motor were of dissimilar type and design and showed signs of arcing. Additionally, the motors armature showed signs of severe wear. Logbook records indicated that the electric landing gear motor was serviced on February 1, 2001, approximately 39 flight hours prior to the accident. The log entry indicated that the armature shaft and brushes were replaced and that the gear motor was returned to service.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

In-flight failure of the electric landing gear motor during the initial takeoff climb.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1118
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Renton
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98055
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 472930N
Event Location Longitude 1221254W
Event Location Airport RENTON MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RNT
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 32
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KRNT
Elevation of weather observation facility 32
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15245
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 4 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1143
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Seattle, Washington

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N201DV
NTSB Number SEA03LA128
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mooney
Aircraft Model M20-J
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24-0088
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
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 Aug 7 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 2263
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Roy Hawk
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Issaquah
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98027
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Mark W. Hawk
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Maple Valley
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98038
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 RNT
Departure City Renton
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code RNT
Destination City Renton
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 11 2004 5:10PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 5382
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --