# Accident 20130316003559A: Mooney M20F, Leesburg, FL, March 16, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 2013, 11:26 local time
- Place: Leesburg, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.8228° N, 81.8086° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8228&lon=-81.8086&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9387V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9387V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20F (registry code 5870214, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 18,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA175) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130316003559A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED LEESBURG FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT TO THE PRACTICE AREA WEST OF THE FIELD. PRACTICE MANEUVERS WERE PERFORMED PRIOR TO SLOW FLIGHT. WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR HANDLE WAS PLACED IN THE DOWN POSITION, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE AIRMEN CONSULTED THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST AND BEGAN TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM. THE LANDING GEAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE EXTENDED USING THE MANUAL METHOD.

THE MANUAL PROCEDURE WAS ATTEMPTED SEVERAL MORE TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRMAN RADIOED LEESBURG TOWER FOR A RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. A LOW PASS WAS MADE DOWN THE RUNWAY AND THE TOWER CONFIRMED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS IN FACT STILL RETRACTED. THE AIRMAN RETURNED AND LINED UP FOR THE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF RUNWAY 13 IN AN ATTEMPT TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE AND FIRE RISK.

UPON MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, BOTH PROPELLER BLADES RECIEVED DAMAGE. A STEP ATTACHED TO THE FUSELAGE TO AID IN GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS DISPLACED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO AN AFT BULKHEAD.

## 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 ERA13LA175](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA175), Mar 16, 2013: Mooney M20F (N9387V), Leesburg, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The incorrect rigging of the landing gear emergency extension system by unknown maintenance personnel, which resulted in a failure of the emergency extension cable, and jamming of the normal…

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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