# Accident 20110919025699A: Heinlein George GH125, Okeechobee, FL, September 19, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 19, 2011, 09:35 local time
- Place: Okeechobee, FL
- Airport: Okeechobee County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.2597° N, 80.8503° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2597&lon=-80.8503&mi=10
- Aircraft: N79GH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79GH-2019-12-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Heinlein George GH125 (registry code 05624Z7, https://openairdocs.org/model/heinlein-george-gh125) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HEINLEIN GEORGE GH125
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 270 total, 200 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11LA519](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA519) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110919025699A

## Narrative

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

AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT OWNER ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT DEPARTING VALKARIA AIRPORT (X59) DECIDED TO LAND AT THE OKEECHOBEE (OBE) AIRPORT FOR REASONS UNDISCLOSED AND NOT AIRCRAFT RELATED. AFTER LANDING AND TAXING ON RUNWAY 5 APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION FOR THE RAMP NEAR THE FBO. WHILE TAXING HIS RIGHT GEAR LEG COLLAPSED, ROLLING IT UP UNDER THE FUSELAGE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO MAKE 180 DEGREE TURN. THE PROPELLER ALSO STRUCK THE GROUND AND WAS DESTROYED IN IMPACT. FINALLY THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE LOWER RIGHT SIDE FUSELAGE. OTHER DAMAGE INCLUDED FABRIC TEARS, ANTENNA DAMAGE BUT MOST NOTEWORTHY IS THE RIGHT WING BROKE AT THE SPAR APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET INBOARD FROM THE TIP. FURTHER INVESTIGATION AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRANSPORTED BACK TO VALKARIA, SHOWS THE GEAR LEG FAILURE CAME FROM THE MAIN FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT BOLT BROKE AT THE SHAFT LEAVING THE SECURING NUT & COTTER PIN INTACT AND THE SADDLE BRACKET COULD NOT RESTRAIN THE GEAR IN THE STATIONARY POSITION. THE PROBABLE CAUSE MAY BE METAL FATIGUE ENCOMPASSED WITH AGE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF HARD LANDINGS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

## 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 ERA11LA519](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA519), Sep 19, 2011: Heinlein George GH125 (N79GH), Okeechobee, FL, substantial damage. 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…

## Other reports on N79GH (1)

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

- [Accident 20180208002169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180208002169A), Feb 8, 2018: Heinlein George GH125 (N79GH), Valkaria, FL, Substantial damage. On 02/08/2018, after purchasing a bakeng deuce (homebuilt) aircraft, the pilot was practicing takeoffs & landings. There was heavy traffic of student pilots…

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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