19990901025039I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Mooney M20E · Torrance, CA · September 1, 1999

Date: September 1, 1999 · 15:57 local
Place: Torrance, CA
Airport: Torrance Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N7842V
Reported as: Mooney M20E
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,500 total2,680 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N7842VRegistration cancelled Sep 4, 2001 · Mooney M20ES/N 470 Airframe modelMooney M20E

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On 9/1/99, doug bombard, owner and PIC of Mooney M20E, N7842V, attempted to extend his landing gear while on a 45 degree approach to Torrance airport. Mr. Bombard discovered that the handle would only go half way down and flew out over the water to cycle the gear. Mr. Bombard did a low flyby and the tower verified a partial gear extension. Mr. Bombard used a tow bar to force the gear handle and he heard something break. The tower verified that the right main gear and nose gear were down but the left main gear was still retracted. Mr. Bombard elected to retract the gear, turn off the mags and master on final approach. Great American at Torrance airport will be repairing the aircraft and owner will keep FSDO informed of cause.

As the FAA filed it

ON 9/1/99, DOUG BOMBARD, OWNER AND PIC OF MOONEY M20E, N7842V, ATTEMPTED TO EXTEND HIS LANDING GEAR WHILE ON A 45 DEGREE APPROACH TO TORRANCE AIRPORT. MR. BOMBARD DISCOVERED THAT THE HANDLE WOULD ONLY GO HALF WAY DOWN AND FLEW OUT OVER THE WATER TO CYCLE THE GEAR. MR. BOMBARD DID A LOW FLYBY AND THE TOWER VERIFIED A PARTIAL GEAR EXTENSION. MR. BOMBARD USED A TOW BAR TO FORCE THE GEAR HANDLE AND HE HEARD SOMETHING BREAK. THE TOWER VERIFIED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND NOSE GEAR WERE DOWN BUT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS STILL RETRACTED. MR. BOMBARD ELECTED TO RETRACT THE GEAR, TURN OFF THE MAGS AND MASTER ON FINAL APPROACH. GREAT AMERICAN AT TORRANCE AIRPORT WILL BE REPAIRING THE AIRCRAFT AND OWNER WILL KEEP FSDO INFORMED OF CAUSE.