# NTSB CHI06CA111: Lee SQ 2000, N416, Berrien Springs, MI, April 13, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 13, 2006, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Berrien Springs, MI - Coordinates: 41.951667, -86.367774 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9517&lon=-86.3678&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-South Bend FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63552 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63552/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA111 ## Probable cause Failure of the right main landing gear assembly during landing and the pilot's subsequent inability to maintain directional control of the airplane. Contributing factors were the collapse of the left and right main landing gear and the gusty, crosswind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - landing gear,main gear - failure,partial (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - grass - Gear collapsed, landing - landing gear - collapsed (contributing factor) ## Analysis The amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged during landing when it departed the right side of runway 31 and the main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on the runway, and that "it appeared [to be] a good touchdown." He stated that during the rollout, the airplane felt "rubbery" and "vibrated or appeared to hop." He lost control of the airplane and it subsequently departed the right side of the runway. The pilot noted that the flight was "very turbulent," although it was "a little more manageable" at lower altitudes. The airport manager reported that skid marks observed on the runway appeared to be associated with the right main landing gear of the accident airplane. He stated that the marks started approximately one-quarter of the way down runway 31, near the first taxiway intersection after the displaced threshold. He noted that the marks were intermittent. Each skid mark was about 18 inches long, with clear (non-skid) intervals of approximately 6 feet between them. In addition, the marks appeared to "jump back and forth" laterally from one mark to the next. They appeared to move from side to side about 6 - 8 inches between each mark. He added that the marks veered toward the right side of the runway, and stopped about 200 feet before the point at which the airplane left the pavement. Marks from the accident airplane continued in the grass area adjacent to the runway. He noted that a pin on the right gear brace appeared to have failed and the brace on the left gear had failed. Winds recorded approximately 13 minutes after the accident, at an airport located 11 nautical miles north of the accident site, were from 230 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 13, 2006, about 1340 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Lee SQ2000 airplane, N416, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during landing on runway 31 (3,030 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at Andrews University Airpark (C20), Berrien Springs, Michigan. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Forest City Municipal Airport (FXY), Forest City, Iowa, about 1200. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on the runway during landing, and that "it appeared [to be] a good touchdown." He stated that during the rollout, the airplane felt "rubbery" and "vibrated or appeared to hop." He lost control of the airplane and it subsequently departed the right side of the runway. The pilot noted that the flight was "very turbulent," although it was "a little more manageable" at lower altitudes. The airport manager stated that the airplane came to rest adjacent to the airport's segmented circle. The airplane was located approximately 120 feet from the edge of the pavement and about 2/3 down the runway length from the displaced threshold. The airplane was oriented on a west heading; pointed toward the intersection of the runways. Both left and right main landing gear had collapsed. A pin on the right gear brace appeared to have failed. The brace on the left gear appeared to have failed. The airport manager reported that skid marks observed on the runway appeared to be associated with the right main landing gear of the accident airplane. He stated that the marks started approximately one-quarter of the way down runway 31, near the first taxiway intersection after the displaced threshold. He noted that the marks were intermittent. Each skid mark was about 18 inches long, with clear (non-skid) intervals of approximately 6 feet between them. In addition, the marks appeared to "jump back and forth" laterally from one mark to the next. They appeared to move from side to side about 6 - 8 inches between each mark. He added that the marks veered toward the right side of the runway, and stopped about 200 feet before the point at which the airplane left the pavement. Marks from the accident airplane continued in the grass area adjacent to the runway. Southwest Michigan Regional Airport (BEH) was located approximately 11 nautical miles north of C20. Winds recorded by the BEH Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), at 1353, were from 230 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 20 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N416](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N416-2013-11-20), registration cancelled 2013-11-20, S/N 0007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lee SQ 2000 - Registry model: [Lee Paul SQ 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/lee-paul-sq-2000) (registry code 0561431) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0007 - Airframe hours: 116 - Engines: Paul Lee Experimental 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 1, 2006 - Departed: FXY, Forest City, IA - Destination: C20, Berrien Springs, MI - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: C20, Andrews University Airpark, runway 31, 4,161 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 230 total, 114 in this make and model, 230 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: BEH, 11 nm away ## 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 20060413006029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060413006029A), Apr 13, 2006: Amtr SQ2000, Berriem Springs, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft landed and during roll-out gear system failed. ## Other investigations on N416 (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 CEN12FA579](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA579), Aug 28, 2012: Lee Paul SQ 2000 (N416), Pierre, SD, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The airplane's entry into a pilot-induced oscillation and the pilot’s loss of airplane control during the takeoff initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the left entrance door opening in… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.