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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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July 2, 2010 · Mooney M20F NO Series · N6802V

Cottonwood, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 2, 2010
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Cottonwood, AZ
Aircraft
Mooney M20F NO Series
Tail Number
N6802V
Operator
Deano L Jacobs
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR10LA340

According to the pilot, during final approach he completed the landing checklist and confirmed that the green down and locked gear light was illuminated. On touchdown the airplane dropped onto its belly and slid about 200 feet before coming to rest on the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s belly skin and outer surfaces of the landing gear doors. This damage, in addition to the lack of damage to the landing gear extension and retraction push rods, was indicative of the landing gear being retracted and the doors closed at the time of impact. Additionally, during the examination the landing gear was cycled several times, with no anomalies noted.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Gear extension and retract sys-Not used/operated - C

Full Narrative

On July 2, 2010, about 0800 mountain standard time, a Mooney M20F, N6802V, sustained substantial damage following a landing gear collapse during landing roll at the Cottonwood Airport (P52), Cottonwood, Arizona. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, which was being operated in accordance with Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and a flight plan was not filed. The airplane had departed the Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Chandler, Arizona, about 0700, with P52 as its destination. In a telephone conversation and in a written report submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that when established on a four mile final and observing the green down and locked light, he reduced power and speed to 120 miles per hour (mph), executed the ‘GUMPS’ checklist and trimmed the airplane to 80 mph. All was normal and he felt a smooth touchdown, with an instantaneous drop of the plane onto its belly. The airplane then slid approximately 200 feet and came to rest on the runway. The pilot further stated in his report that one item he could not remember checking was the gear locked plate on the floor between the front seats. The pilot reported that later that day when the battery was hooked back up, it was seen that this plate was not slid completely into position. The pilot stated that if this had been noticed in flight he could have tried cycling the gear and seen to it that this plate was in the normal locked position. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector reported that an examination of the airplane revealed that it had sustained significant damage to the belly skin, but no damage to the main landing gear doors. The nose landing gear doors were damaged on the outer surfaces, which is the lower surface when the gear is up and the gear doors are closed. The inspector stated that the landing gear extension and retraction system is gear and push rod driven, and that a collapsing gear would have resulted in damage to those components; an inspection of the drive components found them undamaged. The inspector added that after jacking the aircraft up and cycling the landing gear several times, the electrical extension, alternate mechanical extension and landing gear position indicating systems worked properly. The inspector concluded that the landing gear was up and selected in the UP position when the airplane contacted the runway.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:00 MST
Nearest AirportCottonwood Airport (0nm)
Runway32
Runway Length4250 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20F NO Series
Tail NumberN6802V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDeano L Jacobs
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO 360 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter30.17 inHg
Observation Time21:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data