Probable cause
Failure of the left main landing gear actuator assembly, which resulted in an inability to extend the left main landing gear.
NTSB analysis
At the end of a cross-country flight, the commercial pilot noted that the left main landing gear would not extend. He elected to divert to another airport and land with the gear retracted. Postaccident examination revealed that the left main landing gear actuator assembly housing was cracked across the forward attach bolt hole, which resulted in the inability to fully raise or extend the landing gear using either the normal method or the emergency hand pump.
Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration released a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) emphasizing the importance of inspecting main landing gear actuator assemblies. This SAIB recommended complying with a supplemental inspection document provided by the manufacturer that prescribed a combination of visual, fluorescent penetrant, and eddy current inspections. The SAIB also included initial and repetitive inspection intervals.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN17IA155 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 20, 2017
- Type
- Incident
- Place
- Greeley, Colorado
- Nearest airport
- Greeley-Weld County (GXY)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172RG
- N-number
- N6402V
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1980
- Damage
- Minor
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.