LABELLE, FL, USA
N5755P
PIPER PA-24-250
WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, NORMAL AND EMERGENCY ATTEMPTS TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND THEN LANDED INTENTIONALLY GEAR UP IN GRASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP, CAUSING MINIMAL DAMAGE. FURTHER ANALYSIS OF WRECKAGE PHOTOGRAPHS BY PIPER AIRCRAFT PROVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY AERODYNAMIC OVERLOADING IN THE AIR PRIOR TO THE LANDING.
On November 21, 1993, about 1800 eastern standard time, N5755P, a Piper PA-24-250, registered to the pilot William G. Segur, landed gear up at Labelle Airport, Labelle, Florida, while on a local, personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. Review of the wreckage by FAA personnel and Piper Aircraft proved that the damage to the gear extension system, control surfaces and fuselage was caused by in-flight structural overstress. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from the same airport about 2 hours earlier. The pilot stated he could not lower the landing gear by normal or emergency methods and landed intentional gear up in the grass adjacent to the runway. During the landing slide the left horizontal stabilizer broke.
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND EXCEEDING THE STRUCTURAL LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE'S DESIGN LIMITS BY IN-FLIGHT OVER-STRESS THAT RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM, FUSELAGE AND CONTROL SURFACES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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