PHOENIX, AZ, USA
N1553A
BEECH F33A
THE INSTRUCTOR AND HIS DUAL STUDENT WERE PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO'S. AFTER TOUCH DOWN, THE STUDENT APPLIED POWER AND THEN PREMATURELY MOVED THE LANDING GEAR SELECTOR SWITCH TO THE RETRACT POSITION. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID INTO SEVERAL AIRPORT TAXIWAY AND RUNWAY SIGNS. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT SOME TIME AGO THE OPERATOR HAD REMOVED THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY DEVICES FROM EACH AIRCRAFT IN THE FLEET, AND THAT ALL OF THE INSTRUCTORS WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT SUBSEQUENT TO JUNE OF 1989 THE OPERATOR'S MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT HAD REMOVED THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY DEVICES (SELECTOR LEVER COVER GUARD AND THROTTLE SWITCH) FROM THEIR FLEET. FAA INSPECTORS DISCOVERED THE UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS IN JUNE OF 1992 AND HAD ORDERED THE DEVICES REINSTALLED. THE OPERATOR HAD REINSTALLED THE DEVICES DURING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERIODS ON ALL OF THE FLEET EXCEPT FOR THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT.
THE DUAL STUDENTS PREMATURE RETRACTION OF THE LANDING GEAR DURING THE TAKEOFF PORTION OF A TOUCH AND GO, AND, THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE DEACTIVATION OF THE LANDING GEAR SAFETY SYSTEMS BY THE COMPANY MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN EQUIPMENT DEFICIENCIES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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