# Incident 19990828024859I: Mooney M20C, Franklin, PA, August 28, 1999

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 28, 1999, 11:00 local time
- Place: Franklin, PA
- Airport: Chess-Lamberton
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3830° N, 79.8321° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Franklin, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3830&lon=-79.8321&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9371V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9371V) (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
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1D
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,600 total, 118 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990828024859I

## Narrative

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

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS OBTAINED THROUGH AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT AND ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION BY PERSONNEL FROM THE ALLEGHENY FSDO, EA03. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING FROM A VFR PLEASURE FLIGHT, PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR, HOWEVER HE DID NOT RECEIVE A SAFE GEAR INDICATION LIGHT. HE RECYCLED THE GEAR WITH NO RESULTS. THE PILOT THEN CONDUCTED A FLY BY AT THE AIRPORT TO HAVE PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND DETERMINE THE POSITION OF THE LANDING GEAR. THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND TOLD THE PILOT THAT THE GEAR APPEARED TO BE 1/2 TO 2/3 EXTENDED. THE PILOT THEN DEPARTED THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN AND ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESULTS. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO SHAKE THE GEAR LOOSE WITH SEVERAL HIGH "G" MANEUVERS, AGAIN WITH NO RESULTS. THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED WITH THE GEAR PARTIALLY EXTENDED. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED APPROSIMATELY 180 FEET, SUSTAINING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE BELLY PANELS, NOSE GEAR DOORS AND PROPELLER. MAIN GEAR ACTUATOR REMOVED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. DURING ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED ON 8/31/99, 9/7/99 THROUGH 9/10/99, AND 11/5/99, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COUPLER IN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR DRIVE MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. A PORTION OF THIS COUPLER JAMMED BETWEEN THE ASSEMBLY STRUCTURE AND THE 90 DEGREE DRIVE SHAFT ON THE JACK SCREW SIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY.  THIS COUPLER IS MADE OF TWO INTER CONNECTED PIECES OF METAL HELD TOGETHER WITH A RUBBER DISK.  THE A/C LANDING GEAR SYSTEM WAS FOUND OPERATIONAL EXCEPT FOR THE FAILED COUPLER, AND THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED FROM THE GEAR UNSAFE LANDING.  MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVIEWED INDICATED THAT THE COUPLER WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT (30 YRS. OLD - 1340 HOURS SINCE NEW).  AD 75-23-04 PARTS I, II, AND III HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH BUT DO NOT PERTAIN TO THIS COUPLER.  MOONEY SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS DEALS WITH THIS COUPLER BUT HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH.

## Other reports on N9371V (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20030118001269I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030118001269I), Jan 18, 2003: Mooney M20C (N9371V), Franklin, PA, Minor damage. (-23) The instructor pilot, andrew maitland in a written statement said that he and a student pilot, jermome roetering departed runway 20 at fkl to practice…

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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