CHI02LA012

The Beech 200 was substantially damaged during an aborted landing. The winds were gusting in excess of the airplane's maximum demonstrated crosswind component. A witness reported finding landing gear strut pieces on the runway after the Beech 200's landing attempt. The flight then aborted the landing and continued on to its originating airport where the airplane veered off the runway and damaged airport property during its landing.

On October 25, 2001, at 1538 central daylight time, a Beech 200, N200RW, piloted by an airline transport pilot, received substantial damage during an aborted landing on runway 21 (6,497 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport (AIZ), Osage Beach, Missouri. The pilot aborted the landing and returned to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS), St. Louis, Missouri, from which the flight originated. Upon landing at SUS on runway 26R (3,800 feet by 75 feet, asphalt), the airplane veered off the runway, impacted a visual approach slope indicator, crossed taxiway echo, and stopped short of several T-hangars located on the north ramp. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating on an instrument rules flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The flight originated from SUS and was en route to AIZ prior to the accident.

The pilot reported in a written statement, "...I departed Spirit 14:45 and arrived at Lee C. Fine approximately 15:15. I was listening to the AWOS coming in, so I picked runway 21. I went out for a long final because of the winds. I also turned the right radio up to be sure I hear the reports. As I came down final, the reports were mostly 270/15, with some variation and gusts. As I touched down, I heard a kind of rattling sound. My reaction was to pull up and add take-off power. I was going to go around for another approach, but when I tried to raise the gear, I knew I had troubles. The left main gear would not come up. I headed for Spirit and contacted maintenance and the Spirit Tower. I was in the air over Spirit for about half an hour using up fuel and letting the emergency vehicles get in place. While I was in the air over Spirit, I tried to shake the gear down to no avail. I did shake some drawers out and lost power on the flaps, but I did manage to get the fuel off before touch down."

A witness, located on a ramp parallel to runway 21 at AIZ, reported in a written statement, "At approximately 3:30-3:45 pm on 10-25-01 I observed a King Air 200 attempt to land on [runway] 21 at Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport. It was extremely windy, with [gusts] up to 25 knots. As the aircraft touched down I noticed a large amount of smoke from the tires. The aircraft then appeared to settle toward the left wing. The aircraft [then] aborted the landing and then took back off. As he climbed out it appeared that the nose and [right] main gear retracted normally. The left gear appeared to remain down. The aircraft then made a left turn and headed east. Shortly thereafter a Pilatus also attempted to land and aborted the approach. He then attempted a second approach and aborted. At that time thinking the King Air may have blown a tire, I checked the runway and found the strut pieces. I then contacted Columbia flight services."

The maximum demonstrated crosswind is defined in The Design of the Airplane, by Darrol Stinton, as "The velocity of the crosswind component for which adequate control of the aeroplane during take-off and landing was actually demonstrated during certification tests." The maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the King Air 200 is 25 KIAS.

The AIZ automated weather observing system recorded the following:

At 1515, winds from 290 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 27 knots.

At 1535, winds from 300 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 31 knots.

At 1555, winds from 290 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 27 knots.