# NTSB CHI06LA137: Maule MT-7-235, N3010Q, Flushing, MI, May 26, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 2006, 21:15 local (May 26, 2006, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Flushing, MI - Coordinates: 43.054164, -83.807777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0542&lon=-83.8078&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 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Detroit FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63811 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63811/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA137 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the collapse of the amphibian float's nose wheels, and a nose over during the landing roll. Factors associated with the accident were the soft grass runway, and the collapse of the nose wheel fittings. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - grass - landing gear,nose gear attach point - failure,total (contributing factor) - landing gear,nose gear attach point - overload ## Analysis The amphibian airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll on a soft, grass runway with the landing gear in the down position. The pilot reported he decided to land on the grass runway instead of the available asphalt runway because of favorable winds. The landing was normal until about 150 feet into the landing roll. The pilot reported that the small castoring wheels on the amphibian floats sank into the soft ground, and "caused our plane to pole-vault onto its tail." Inspection of the runway revealed that there was about 3/4 inch of standing water on the runway. The left and right landing gear drag braces and the left and right nose wheel castor housings were sent to the Materials Laboratory at the National Transportation Safety Board for inspection. The metallurgical inspection revealed that the fracture surfaces of the weld between the forward end of the struts, and the castor bodies exhibited deformation consistent with overstress with the nose wheel moving aft relative to the strut. ## Factual narrative On May 25, 2006, at 2115 eastern daylight time, an amphibian equipped Maule MT-7-235, N3010Q, sustained substantial damage during landing roll on runway 9 (1,330 feet by 150 feet, grass) at the Dalton Airport (3DA), Flushing, Michigan. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight departed Clare Municipal Airport (48D), Clare, Michigan, at 1955. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he checked the weather at Flint (FNT), Michigan, located about 6 nautical miles to the southeast. The pilot reported that the Automatic Terminal Information System (ATIS) indicated that the winds were from the east at 7 - 9 knots. The pilot elected to land on runway 9. Runway 18/36 at 3DA is an asphalt runway that is 2,510 feet by 50 feet. The pilot reported that the landing was normal until about 150 feet into the landing rollout. The pilot reported that the small castoring wheels on the amphibian floats sank into the soft ground and "caused our plane to pole-vault onto its tail." The pilot reported that the inspection of the runway revealed that there was about 3/4 inch of standing water on the runway. The amphibian airplane was equipped with model BF2750A Baumann floats. The left and right landing gear drag braces and the left and right nose wheel castor housings were sent to the Materials Laboratory at the National Transportation Safety Board for inspection. The metallurgical inspection revealed that the fracture surfaces of the weld between the forward end of the struts and the castor bodies exhibited deformation consistent with overstress with the nose wheel moving aft relative to the strut. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3010Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3010Q-2006-08-23), registration cancelled 2006-08-23, S/N 18014C, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule MT-7-235 - Registry model: [Maule MT-7-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-mt-7-235) (registry code 5460175) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18014C - Airframe hours: 533 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lois L. Montague - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2006 - Departed: 48D, Clare, MI - Destination: 3DA, Flushing, MI - Airport: 3DA, Dalton, runway 9, 1,330 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,606 total, 162 in this make and model, 1,606 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 110 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.54 inHg - Observed at: FNT, 6 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 20060525015799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060525015799A), May 25, 2006: Maule MT7235, Flushing, MI, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot landed on rwy 9 at 3DA at approximately 2115 EDT. Landing was normal according to pilot and witness. However, due to heavy rainfall that afternoon,… 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.