# NTSB DFW07CA015: Maule M5, N32CX, New Braunfels, TX, October 26, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 26, 2006, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: New Braunfels, TX - Coordinates: 29.7016666666667, -98.0383333333333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7017&lon=-98.0383&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: San Antonio, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 64779 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64779/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA015 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear attachment during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. A contributing factor was a crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear attachment - corroded (cause) - landing gear,main gear attachment - deteriorated (cause) - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The private pilot was returning to the airport in the tail-wheeled airplane. He reported that he executed a normal approach to runway 17 for a full- stop landing. He stated that the wind at the time of the landing was reported as 250 degrees at 8 knots. During the landing roll, the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway. stated that he made a "slight correction with right rudder," but the airplane's right wing "continued down and the aircraft [began] to turn hard right." He attempted to regain directional control by adding power, but the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing and the propeller contacted the ground. The airplane ground looped which, resulted in structural damage to the right wing. Examination of the landing gear by an aircraft mechanic revealed that the right landing gear strut attachment point was corroded and cracked. ## Factual narrative The 512-hour private pilot had just completed a practice flight consisting of slow flight, stalls, and steep turns, and was returning to the airport in the tail-wheeled airplane. The pilot reported that he executed a normal approach to runway 17, (a dry asphalt 5,354-foot long by 100-foot wide runway), which consisted of a 65-mph approach with the flaps extended to the 20-degrees position for a planned full- stop landing. Additionally, the pilot reported that the wind at the time of the landing was being reported from 250 degrees at 8 knots. During the landing roll, the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway. The pilot stated that he made a "slight correction with right rudder," but the airplane's right wing "continued down and the aircraft [began] to turn hard right." The pilot attempted to regain directional control by adding power; however, the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing and the propeller contacted the ground. The airplane ground looped which resulted in structural damage to the right wing. The pilot, who was uninjured, reported that he had accumulated a total of 4-hours in this make and model. Examination of the landing gear by an aircraft mechanic revealed that the right landing gear strut attachment point was corroded and cracked. A search of the SDR database, failed to return another report of a failed attachment point. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32CX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32CX), registered now, S/N 7034C, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M5 - Registry model: [Maule M-5-235C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-235c) (registry code 5460135) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7034C - Airframe hours: 1904 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2005 - Departed: 3R5, New Braunfels, TX - Destination: New Braunfels, TX - Airport: 3R5, New Braunfels Muni, runway 17, 5,364 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 512 total, 4 in this make and model, 453 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: KBAZ ## 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 20061026021899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061026021899A), Oct 26, 2006: Maule M5235C, New Braunfels, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 26, 2006 (approx 1710 LCL), a Maule model M-5 (registration N23CX) crashed following a ground loop. Pilot in command stated that he lost… 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.