Amateur-built 235 N235N accident near Stuart, Florida

Probable cause

A landing gear collapse due to a hydraulic fluid leak in the landing gear system.

NTSB analysis

The pilot attempted to extend the landing gear of the experimental amateur-built airplane, but did not receive a green light cockpit indication for the nose landing gear. He performed the emergency landing gear extension procedure and ultimately received a green light for the nose landing gear during an airport flyby, in which ground personnel observed that the nose landing gear was extended. The pilot subsequently performed a soft-field landing; however, the nose landing gear collapsed when it contacted the runway. The airplane veered left, struck a taxiway sign, and came to rest upright in a grassy area to the left of the runway.

Examination of the wreckage revealed extensive streaking of hydraulic fluid on the lower left section of the airplane and the empennage beginning at the area between the fuselage and left wing root and flap. The left main landing gear strut had separated during the accident and could have been one source of hydraulic fluid on the empennage. The landing gear hydraulic pump operated normally when tested and the landing gear downlock switches were found to be electrically operational as well. The hydraulic fluid reservoir was found to be low (approximately 25% filled), consistent with a hydraulic leak; however, due to impact damage, the source of the leak could not be determined, nor could the landing gear system be fully tested.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA051 for the full record.