# NTSB DEN01IA108: Beech 200, N725MC, Greeley, CO, May 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: May 8, 2001, 12:56 local (18:56 UTC) - Place: Greeley, CO - Coordinates: 40.439208, -104.670944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4392&lon=-104.6709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01IA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52391/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01IA108 ## Probable cause jamming of the nose landing gear actuator due to improper painting procedures by other maintenance personnel which resulted in a wheels up landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - landing gear,nose gear assembly - jammed (cause) - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Wheels up landing, landing - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command ## Analysis After takeoff and during climb out, the pilot heard an unusual noise, "like a chain popping or slipping around a sprocket" when the landing gear was retracted. He then noticed the left main tire and inboard gear doors were visible beneath the engine nacelle. Unable to extend or retract the landing gear, the pilot diverted to another airport and made an intentional wheels up landing. Later disassembly and examination of the nose landing gear actuator (p/n 50-820208-5) revealed the nut assembly had been painted white while it was in the EXTEND position. After cleaning off the paint and reassembling the actuator, it moved freely in and out as required. The disassembly report stated, "The nut assembly is a chromed metal shaft that is not to be painted." According to the operator, the airplane had recently been repainted. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 2001, at 1256 mountain daylight time, a Beech 200, N725MC, operated by Mountain Aviation, Inc., sustained minor damage during an intentional wheels up landing at Greeley-Weld County Airport, Greeley, Colorado. The pilot and 5 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed for the non-scheduled domestic passenger flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 135. The flight originated in Broomfield, Colorado, approximately 0805. After takeoff and during climb-out, the pilot heard an unusual noise "like a chain popping or slipping around a sprocket" when the landing gear was retracted. He then noticed the left main tire and inboard gear doors were visible beneath the engine nacelle. He attempted to extend the landing gear manually but without success. The pilot circled the area to burn off fuel, then diverted to Greeley-Weld County Airport, where he performed a wheels up landing. Damage was confined to the landing gear doors, antennae, and one propeller tip. The airplane was later hoisted by crane and the nose landing gear actuator was disconnected. The main landing gear was then cranked down, the gears were pinned, and the airplane towed to Beegles Aircraft Service. The nose landing gear actuator was then packaged, sealed, and shipped to FAA's Aircraft Certification Office in Wichita, Kansas. On May 22, 2001, the landing gear actuator (p/n 50-820208-5) was examined at Raytheon Aircraft Corporation under the auspices of the Federal Aviation Administration. In its report, Raytheon noted that the nut assembly would rotate but would not move in and out. After x-rays were taken, the nut assembly was forced out of the cylinder. It was discovered that the nut assembly had been painted white while in the EXTEND position. After cleaning off the paint and reassembling the actuator, it moved freely in and out as required. The report stated, "The nut assembly is a chromed metal shaft that is not to be painted." According to Mountain Aviation's director of maintenance, the airplane had recently undergone a complete refurbishment, including new engines and propellers and upholstery. It was then painted by a company in Cheyenne, Wyoming. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N725MC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N725MC-2019-05-01), registration cancelled 2019-05-01, S/N BB-169, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 200 - Registry model: [Beech 200](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-200) (registry code 1152920) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BB169 - Airframe hours: 8050 - Engines: P&W PT6A-41 850 horsepower turbo prop; P&W PT6A-41 850 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Mountain Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: 725mc, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 15, 2001, 82 hours before - Departed: BJC, Broomfield, CO - Destination: LAM, Los Alamos - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld County, runway 090, 6,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,478 total, 28 in this make and model, 2,059 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: GXY ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20010508009509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010508009509I), May 8, 2001: Beech 200BEECH, Greeley, CO, Minor damage. (-23)N725MC, a Beech king AIR-200, departed bjc, when the pilot heard a grinding and crunching sound when he retracted the landing gear. The pilot noticed the… ## Other investigations on N725MC (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 IAD77FIG36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD77FIG36), Sep 26, 1977: Beech 200 (N725MC), Gaithersburg, MD, substantial damage 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.