Beta Biz LLC LX7 accident near Huntsville, Alabama, March 30, 2024
On March 30, 2024 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2020 Beta Biz LLC LX7, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N222MA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Huntsville, Alabama (Huntsville International Airpo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the nose landing gear actuator forward hydraulic fitting, which resulted in a main landing gear collapse during landing due to the loss of hydraulic fluid and pressure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2024 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Huntsville, Alabama · Huntsville International Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beta Biz LLC LX7 NO SERIES, built 2020, amateur-built
- Registration
- N222MA · registry record · serial 014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane had completed an uneventful cross-country flight until the arrival to his destination airport. When the landing gear was lowered on approach, the pilot observed a “gear unsafe” message and the hydraulic pump continuously operated. The nose landing gear (NLG) indicated down and locked, but neither main landing gear lights illuminated. The pilot cycled the landing gear, however, there was no change in the unsafe gear condition. He then circled away from the airport and performed an emergency gear extension, but that also did not resolve the gear configuration malfunction. Subsequently, the pilot completed an emergency landing at the destination airport with only the NLG down and locked. Upon touchdown, both main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded on its empennage and rudder to a stop, which resulted in substantial damage. Postaccident examination revealed that the NLG actuator forward hydraulic fitting had sheared, which allowed hydraulic fluid and pressure to empty from the system, preventing the main landing gear from fully extending and locking into place. Following the accident, the pilot identified that the hydraulic fitting had sheared. He subsequently replenished the hydraulic fluid, capped the fitting that had failed, and was able to lower the main landing gear normally and tow the airplane back to the ramp. The pilot, who was also the owner/repairman for the airplane, had replaced the nose landing gear actuator two times, with the most recent replacement occurring 3.4 hours prior to the accident. The pilot reported that the prior actuators would leak, resulting in the hydraulic pump running continuously. During the most recent installation, the pilot adjusted the hydraulic fitting because it was not aligned with the actuator. He performed several gear swings and flew six flights without issue after this maintenance.
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 collapse during landing
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,902 hours in all; 360 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 2,709 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 7, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 354 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 10, 2024; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550E (piston); 352 hours total
- Operator: Beta Biz LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CKM Clarksdale MS at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18R/, 12,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from HSV, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHSV 301753Z 24009G17KT 10SM FEW050 23/08 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP173 T02330083 10233 20106 58013 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 18, 2024. 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 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 8 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.