CESSNA 172RG

Full Narrative

On September 19, 2008, at 1603 central daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N6416V, owned by Convergent Aviation Ventures LLC, and operated by an airline transport certificated pilot, was substantially damaged during a gear-up landing at Spirit of St Louis Airport, St Louis, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight departed at 1250.

According to the accident report form submitted by the pilot, he had just departed when he noted that he had a "landing gear problem." The pilot notified the air traffic control tower and they confirmed that the main landing gear was extended but the nose landing gear was not. The pilot discussed the situation with "Skyline" over the radio and flew the airplane for the next three hours to burn off fuel. During this time, the pilot made numerous attempts to pump down the landing gear without success. The pilot returned to the airport and attempted three touch and go landings in order to "force" or jolt the nose gear down. Ultimately the pilot elected to land with the landing gear retracted.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane, the damage to the fuselage extended through the skin, into the bulkhead and would require major repair. Further examination revealed that the nose gear door was jammed and had prevented the nose landing gear from extending. An examination of the maintenance records revealed that the day prior to the accident, the airplane was in for maintenance directly related to the landing gear door and damage to the door lip. The mechanic performed two gear swings without issue and the airplane was returned to service with the intent to repair the gear door damage when the airplane was in for an annual inspection in October.