Reno Stead Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Reno, Nevada 89506
Tuesady, September 11, 2012 15:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that following an uneventful takeoff, the landing gear malfunctioned when he attempted to retract it. After several attempts, the landing gear retracted, and he performed his race course qualifying lap. Upon exiting the closed race course, he attempted to extend the landing gear. Following multiple attempts, the landing gear appeared to be down. The right main landing gear warning light was illuminated, and the pilot executed a precautionary landing. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear rotary selector valve seal had failed, which allowed hydraulic pressure to bypass the landing gear. The bypass in hydraulic pressure would preclude the landing gear system from operating normally.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The collapse of the right main landing gear due to failure of the landing gear rotary selector valve seal.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/11/2012
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Reno
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89506
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394005N
Event Location Longitude 1195235W
Event Location Airport Reno Stead Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RTS
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 5050
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID RNO
Elevation of weather observation facility 4415
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KRNO 112155Z 00000KT 10SM FEW090 SCT150 28/M
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30804
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 22 2013 12:33PM
User who most recently changed record coln
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4434P
NTSB Number WPR12LA422
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 HAWKER
Aircraft Model MK 11 SEA FURY
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number WH 589
Certified Max Gross Weight 14500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 20 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Air Zurich LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LAKE ZURICH
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60047-1558
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Matthew Jackson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Northridge
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 91325
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Air Race/Show
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RTS
Departure City Reno
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code RTS
Destination City Reno
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2012 11:41AM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --