CURTISS WRIGHT P-40E
Lincoln, NE — October 24, 2009
Event Information
| Date | October 24, 2009 |
| Event Type | INC |
| NTSB Number | CEN10IA030 |
| Event ID | 20091027X41534 |
| Location | Lincoln, NE |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 40.85083, -96.75916 |
| Airport | Lincoln Municipal Airport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | CURTISS WRIGHT |
| Model | P-40E |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | MINR |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The right landing gear's partial retraction during landing due to paint contamination of the landing gear handle detent.
Full Narrative
Upon touchdown, the World War II era tailwheel-equipped airplane experienced an uncontrollable swerve as the right main landing gear began to collapse. As the right main gear exited the edge of the runway, the airplane rocked forward onto its nose and the propeller and left wing tip impacted the ground. The airplane rocked back and came to rest partially off the runway in an upright and right wing low position. An examination of the landing gear retraction system revealed that the landing gear handle detent was contaminated with paint. Subsequently, the landing gear handle did not stay in the detent which resulted in the right landing gear downlock pin to partially retract, followed by the partial retraction of the right main landing gear.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.