# NTSB ATL01LA025: Beech BE-23, N7107N, Columbus, MS, January 20, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 20, 2001, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Columbus, MS
- Coordinates: 33.499214, -88.399032 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4992&lon=-88.3990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Jackson FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 51371
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51371/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA025

## Probable cause

The pilots failure to maintain directional control of the airplane ,and subsequently  resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, this was the first flight following the completion of the annual maintenance inspection. The pilot stated that during taxi he noticed that the nose wheel steering seemed slightly "stiff" when applying right rudder, and slightly "less responsive" when applying left rudder. The pilot stated that during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right, and he subsequently applied rudder to correct for the drift condition. The airplane veered to the left again and started to skid, which resulted in the right  main landing gear collapse. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose any mechanical malfunction or component failure.

## Factual narrative

On January 20, 2001, at 1500 central standard time, a Beech BE-23, N7107N, right main landing gear collapsed during a landing on runway 36 at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane received substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. The flight departed Columbus, Mississippi, at 1440 hours.

According to the pilot, this was the first flight following the completion of the annual maintenance inspection, which included replacement of the top half of the nose gear. The pilot stated that during taxi he noticed that the nose wheel steering seemed slightly "stiff" when applying right rudder, and slightly "less responsive" when applying left rudder. After about 15 minutes of flight, the pilot returned to the airport for a landing. The pilot stated that during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right, and he subsequently applied rudder to correct for the drift condition. After several lateral oscillations, the airplane veered to the left again and started to skid. As the airplane continued the left skid, the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wheel assembly separated from the strut.

According to the pilot, the aircraft had recently had nose gear maintenance at a local repair facility. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose any mechanical malfunction or component failure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7107N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Beech BE-23
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M1192
- Airframe hours: 2488
- Engines: Lycoming O-360A2G 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gordon Burns
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2001, 0.3 hours before
- Departed: GTR, COLUMBUS, MS
- Destination: GTR, COLUMBUS, MS
- Airport: GTR, Golden Triangle, runway 36, 6,497 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport, military, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 30, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 4,696 total, 640 in this make and model, 3,242 as pilot in command, 170 in the last 90 days, 116 in the last 30 days, 55 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: GTR

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.

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