# Accident 19971020031529A: Mooney M20C, Hendersonville, NC, October 20, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 20, 1997, 16:45 local time
- Place: Hendersonville, NC
- Airport: Hendersonville Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Touch And Go Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3609° N, 82.5108° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3609&lon=-82.5108&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3426X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3426X-2003-10-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL98LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971020031529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NOSE GEAR SHIMMY. VEERED OFF RUNWAY. (-23) PILOT WAS PERFORMING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AT HENDERSONVILLE AIRPORT (0A7), HENDERSONVILLE, NC.  ON THE SECOND LANDING, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY WITH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WITH THE AIRCRAFT SWERVING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND, BUT THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT, ONTO A GRASS AREA.  AFTER TRAVELLING A SHORT DISTANCE, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A SLIGHT DEPRESSION IN THE GRASS AREA, AND THE NOSE GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELLED FURTHER, AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED, LEAVING THE AIRCRAFT RESTING ON ITS RIGHT WING, ENGINE COWLING, AND LEFT MAIN GEAR, WHICH FAILED BUT REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT. SOME QUESTION EXISTS ABOUT DIFFICULTY SEVERAL AIRCRAFT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MOONEY AIRCRAFT, AND AN FAA FORM 8010-4, MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT REPORT, HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO AFS-640, MAINTENANCE SUPPORT BRANCH, OKLAHOMA CITY.  DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT INCLUDED: NOSE LANDING GEAR SHEARED; RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLLAPSED (OUT OF VIEW BENEATH AIRCRAFT); LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACHED TO AIRCRAFT, BUT BROKEN; LEFT WING - DAMAGE AT LEFT MAI                                      N GEAR, AND MINOR DAMAGE AT WING TIP; RIGHT WING - UPPER SURFACE RIPPLED, LOWER SURFACE UNKNOWN; PROPELLER SHAFT BROKEN; PROPELLER BLADE DAMAGED DUE TO GROUND IMPACT AFTER DEPARTING RUNWAY; FIRE WALL SEPARATED FROM ENGINE MOUNT; ENGINE COMPARTMENT DISPLACED TO LEFT DUE TO GROUND IMPACT; COWLING RIPPLED BY IMPACT AND DISPLACEMENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL98LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA005), Oct 20, 1997: Mooney M20C (N3426X), Hendersonville, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The undetermined malfunction of the nose gear steering assembly that resulted in the loss of directional control during a full stop landing. A factor was the rough and uneven runway condition. .

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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