Socata TB20 accident near Melbourne, Florida, February 25, 2017
On February 25, 2017 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 1989 Socata TB20, registered N2519T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Melbourne, Florida (Melbourne Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper installation of the circlip within the nose gear strut, which resulted in the strut overextending in the wheel well and preventing the nose landing gear from extending during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2017 · about 4:15 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- Melbourne, Florida · Melbourne Intl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB20, built 1989 · all TB20s on the register
- Registration
- N2519T · registry record · serial 949
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a personal flight, the airplane's alternator warning light flashed and the battery began to discharge, so the pilot conducted a precautionary landing. The nose landing gear did not fully deploy, and the pilot performed a gear-up landing. Examination of the landing gear system revealed the nose landing gear was jammed within the wheel well because the nose strut had overextended. Further, the circlip that held the strut inside the gear assembly was dislodged from the groove. Paint was identified on the outer portion of the circlip. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the nose landing gear was disassembled and repaired more than 2 years and 75 flight hours before the accident flight. The airplane was fully painted after that maintenance. According to the airplane maintenance manual, the circlip should have been fully installed in the groove, and the landing gear should be rotated several times to confirm proper installation. If the circlip had been properly installed inside the nose strut housing groove at the time paint was applied, paint would not have been on the outer surface of the circlip. It is likely that the circlip was improperly installed when the nose landing gear was repaired; it eventually became dislodged sufficiently to cause the internal strut to overextend and the gear to become jammed within the wheel well.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute (cruise)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear strut/axle › Incorrect service/maintenance other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,858 hours in all; 1,849 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 2,700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 26, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 73 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 2016; 2,983 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,086 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4050 (piston); 2,983 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYW Key West FL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: DAB Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27R, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from MLB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of overextended strut out of nose gear assembly
Photo 2 - Bottom view of overextended strut out of nose gear assembly
Photo 4 – Side view of circlip resting on top of nose wheel assembly
Photo 5 – View of nose gear wheel well and damaged forward bulkheadThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record FAA Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenanace Manual Excerpts | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2519T on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Daher (Socata) TB-20 200 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4050 4,223 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Melbourne Orlando International · nearest airport
- Key West International · departed from
- Daytona Beach International · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 985 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,699 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA17LA130.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.