# NTSB ATL87LA247: Mooney M20F, N9784M, Put In Bay, OH, August 29, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 29, 1987, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Put In Bay, OH
- Coordinates: 41.640605, -82.819252 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6406&lon=-82.8193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7510
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA247
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7510/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA247

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - to takeoff
  - landing gear,gear lever - cracked (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,gear lever - separation (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,gear lever - overload (cause)
  - maintenance,adjustment - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
- Complete gear collapsed, taxi - to takeoff

## Analysis

THE PLT HEARD A LOUD 'SNAP' WHILE TAXIING TO THE RWY, AND THE LDG GEAR COLLAPSED IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. THE PLT OBSERVED THAT THE GEAR HANDLE WAS STILL IN THE DOWN-AND-LOCKED POSITION AND THAT THE GREEN 'GEAR DOWN' LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. FAA EXAM OF THE MANUALLY OPERATED LDG GEAR SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE GEAR HANDLE/LEVER ASSY HAD CRACKED AND SEPARATED WHERE IT WAS WELDED TO A CROSS MEMBER. METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES REVEALED EVIDENCE OF BENDING OVERSTRESS SEPARATION. EXAM OF THE ACFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE LDG GEAR HAD BEEN RE-RIGGED ABOUT 11 FLT HRS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ACFT MAINTENANCE MANUAL NOTES THAT THE OVERCENTER CONFIGURATION OF THE RETRACTION LINKAGE HOLDS THE GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED, AND WARNS THAT IMPROPER GEAR RIGGING CAN RESULT IN A GEAR COLLAPSE DURING TAXIING OR LDG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9784M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9784M), registered now, S/N 680201, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 680201
- Airframe hours: 1920
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: R.J. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 31, 1986, 11 hours before
- Destination: PTK, PONTIAC, MI
- Airport: OH30, Put-In-Bay, runway 22, 2,870 × 30 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,172 total, 54 in this make and model, 6,065 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870829048659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870829048659A), Aug 29, 1987: Mooney M20F, Put In Bay, OH, Substantial damage. Nose and main landing gear collapsed while taxiing for takeoff. Found the landing gear lever assembly had failed.

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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