ATLANTA, GA, USA
N8387X
PIPER PA-34-22OT
THE ACFT WAS ON A TAKEOFF ROLL WHEN THE LEFT MAIN AND NOSE GEAR RETRACTED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FLT SWITCH FOR THE HOBBS METER HAD BEEN INSTALLED TO AUTOMATICALLY RECORD ONLY FLT TIME WHEN THE SWITCH WAS IN THE FLT POSITION. IN THIS POSTION THE HOBBS METER WAS TIED IN TO THE WEIGHT ON THE ACFT WHEELS. THE SWITCH HAD RECENTLY BEEN MODIFIED AND THIS WAS THE FIRST FLT WITH THE SWITCH IN THE FLT POSITION. DURING A TEST AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE GEAR RETRACTED IN THIS POSITION EVEN WITH THE GEAR HANDLE DOWN. NO TEST OF THE GEAR HAD BEEN MADE AFTERTHE MODIFICATION PRIOR TO RELEASE FOR FLT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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