# NTSB CEN16LA100: Maule M 7-235C, N66E, Macon, MO, January 29, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 29, 2016, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Macon, MO
- Coordinates: 39.729721, -92.456665 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7297&lon=-92.4567&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92696
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92696/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92696
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA100

## Probable cause

The failure of the right main landing gear assembly for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=5460110), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=5460110), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-7-235C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5460110), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the landing roll following a normal touchdown after a personal flight, the pilot felt a vibration in the airframe, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane departed the side of the runway. A pilot-rated witness confirmed that the landing approach, flare, and touchdown were normal, and the surface wind was about a 20-degree left crosswind at 8 to 10 knots and not gusting at the time of landing. An examination of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear strut assembly failed, and all associated fracture surfaces were consistent with overload. The reason for the overload failure could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On January 29, 2016, about 1130 central standard time, a Maule M 7-235C single-engine airplane, N66E, experienced a right main landing gear collapse during landing at the Macon-Fower Municipal Airport (K89), Macon, Missouri. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The airplane was registered to Richardson Companies, Inc., and operated by a private individual as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight departed at an unknown time. After a normal touchdown on runway 20 and during the landing roll, the pilot felt a vibration in the airframe. Shortly thereafter, the right wing dropped and the pilot lost yaw control. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The airplane came to rest upright off the side of the runway. A pilot-rated witness stated the landing approach, flare, and touchdown were normal. He reported the wind at 8 to 10 knots, not gusting, and a 20 degree left crosswind for the landing. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector showed the right main landing gear collapsed and remained partially attached to the fuselage. The right wing strut and right wing were bent. The inspector located the upper half of one bolt that attaches the right main gear strut to the fuselage, and the bolt was sheared. The bolt fracture surface was consistent with an overload failure. The inspector noted the fuselage to main landing gear frame structure was fractured, and the inspector did not see any evidence of corrosion or a preexisting condition that contributed to the failure. The right main landing wheel hub assembly was fractured, and a portion of the hub was not located. The remaining portion of the hub did not display any evidence of corrosion or a preexisting condition that contributed to the failure. The reason for the right main landing gear collapse could not be determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66E), registered now, S/N 25077C, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MAULE M 7-235C (235C)
- Registry model: [Maule M-7-235C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235c) (registry code 5460110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25077C
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 395
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 2015
- Departed: K89, Macon, MO
- Destination: K89, Macon, MO
- Airport: K89, Macon-Fower Municipal Airport, runway 20, 4,150 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 18, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,500 total, 150 in this make and model, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 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 20160129021659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160129021659A), Jan 29, 2016: Maule M-7-235C, Macon, MO, Substantial damage. Upon landing runway 20, the right main landing gear strut came free of the aircraft, rolled upside down, and caused the right wing lift struts to collapse. The…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92696. 436 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 436 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF

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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