Honda Aircraft HA-420 accident near Charleston, South Carolina, October 7, 2019
On October 7, 2019 at about 12:30 pm local time, a 2017 Honda Aircraft HA-420, registered N166HJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston Afb/Intl airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Ground personnel’s use of an improper towbar adapter lug, which prevented the nose landing gear from extending.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2019 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Charleston, South Carolina · Charleston Afb/Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Honda Aircraft HA-420, built 2017
- Registration
- N166HJ · registry record · serial 42000066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, during the landing approach, after extending the landing gear, he received a yellow nose landing gear indicator light and an aural “gear unsafe” warning. He aborted the approach to troubleshoot and, after performing an emergency gear extension, received a red nose landing gear light and a warning message indicating a problem with the landing gear doors. The pilot subsequently landed and the airplane settled onto the nose, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the airplane revealed a towbar adapter lug inside of the nose wheel axle assembly. The adapter lug was not a produced by the airplane manufacturer nor was it specified for use for the accident airplane. A witness mark was discovered on the top surface of the nose landing gear door and at the bottom of the nose landing gear bay. It is likely that, based on the incorrect size of the towbar adapter lug, the nose wheel landing gear became stuck in the stowed/retracted position.
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
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Ground crew
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 21,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 6, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 334 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 17, 2019; 334 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,700 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge Honda Aero Engines HF120-H1A (turbojet); 334 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge Honda Aero Engines HF120-H1A (turbojet); 334 hours total
- Operator: Pro By Air
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL at 11:15 am
- Destination: CHS Charleston SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 03, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; a few clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from CHS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on March 18, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Memorandum for Record - Nose Gear Examination and Testing | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Damage Assessment | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum of Record Banyan Air Service | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.