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September 19, 2011 · Heinlein George GH125 · N79GH

Okeechobee, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 19, 2011
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Okeechobee, FL
Aircraft
Heinlein George GH125
Tail Number
N79GH
Operator
Mikos Peter D
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA11LA519

The non-certificated pilot was taxiing the airplane to the ramp area when the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane rotated 180 degrees, damaging the right wing before coming to rest. A postaccident examination revealed that a bolt in the right main landing gear had fractured. Subsequent examination of the bolt determined that it fractured in overstress due to concomitant shear and bending stresses. In addition, the pilot stated that he might have landed the airplane hard on the day of the accident and also a few times prior to the accident. The right main landing gear bolt had accumulated 265 hours of total time in service. No additional mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The non-certificated pilot's improper flare on an earlier flight, which resulted in a hard landing, fracture of the right main landing gear bolt, and subsequent collapse of the right main landing gear.

Full Narrative

On September 19, 2011, about 0930 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Heinlein GH125, N79GH, was substantially damaged when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing roll at Okeechobee County Airport (OBE), Okeechobee, Florida. The non-certificated pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to the pilot and operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which originated at OBE. After landing and while taxiing to the ramp area, the right main landing gear collapsed, the airplane turned 180 degrees, and came to rest on the runway. The right wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. A post accident examination of the main landing gear by the pilot revealed that a bolt in the right main landing gear had fractured. The pilot, age 72, had previously held a student pilot certificate which expired in 2003. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in June of 2001. He reported 300 total flight hours, of which, 70 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. In addition, he reported that he had flown 5 hours in the last 30 days. According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1993, and registered to the pilot in 2007. It was a two-seat, high-wing monoplane, which had conventional tailwheel landing gear. It was equipped with a Lycoming O-290 series, 130-horsepower engine. The most recent condition inspection was performed on September 28, 2010, by the pilot, who did not hold a repairman certificate for the airplane. The right main landing gear bolt was examined by the Safety Board Materials Laboratory. According to the Laboratory's factual report, based on the deformation of the bolt shank and the fracture surface features, the bolt fractured in overstress due to concomitant shear and bending stresses. According to the pilot, the right main landing gear bolt had accumulated 265 hours of total time in service. In addition, he stated that he might have landed the airplane "hard" on the day of the accident and also a few times prior to the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 EDT
Nearest AirportOkeechobee Country Airport (0nm)
Runway23
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHeinlein George GH125
Tail NumberN79GH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMikos Peter D
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-290 SERIES · Reciprocating · 140
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 72 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time13:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data