# NTSB ERA10LA107: Maule M5, N51620, LaGrange, GA, December 6, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 6, 2009, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: LaGrange, GA - Coordinates: 33.009514, -85.070078 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0095&lon=-85.0701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75223 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75223/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75223 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA107 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-5-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=5460133), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-5-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=5460133), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Maule M-5-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5460133), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector was conducting a ramp check when he noticed a damaged airplane with substantial damage to the right wing and right main landing gear. According to the pilot, after landing he turned left off of the runway onto the first taxiway. He stated that, as he began the turn, the right landing gear collapsed and the right wing tip and propeller struck the ground. ## Factual narrative On December 6, 2009, about 1215 eastern standard time, a Maule M-5-220C, N51620, was substantially damaged following a collapse of the right main landing gear, at LaGrange-Callaway Airport (LGC), LaGrange, Georgia. The certificated private pilot/owner and his passenger were not injured. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards District Office in Atlanta, Georgia, was conducting a ramp check at LGC several weeks after the accident when he noticed the damaged airplane, which was tied down in its usual location. The inspector determined that the pilot had not reported the damage, or the event that caused it, either to the FAA or to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Follow-up activity by the inspector revealed that the right wing and right main landing gear were substantially damaged. Each main landing gear consisted of two upper struts and one lower strut. The upper ends of the three struts attached to the fuselage, and the lower ends attached to the respective main wheel fitting. The lower strut of the right main gear was buckled, which permitted the right main landing gear to collapse, and the right wing to contact the ground. According to the pilot, after landing on runway 13, he turned left onto the first taxiway. He stated that as he began the turn, "the right landing gear collapsed" and the "right wing tip and propeller struck the ground." FAA records indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 1974, and that it was equipped with a Franklin 6A-350 series piston engine. The airplane was first registered to the pilot in 1981. Further information regarding the airplane's condition and maintenance history were never provided to the NTSB, despite several requests to both the FAA and the airplane's owner. Review of FAA Airworthiness Directives and Maule Service Bulletins revealed that no additional mandatory or recommended maintenance or inspection procedures regarding the M-5 main landing gear were issued. FAA records indicated that the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in July, 2008. He reported a total flight time of 723 hours, with 479 hours in the accident airplane. FAA records indicated that LGC was equipped with a single asphalt runway, designated 13-31, that measured 5,599 feet by 150 feet. Airport elevation was listed as 693 feet above mean sea level. The airport was not equipped with a control tower. The first taxiway that intersected runway 13 was located approximately 1,500 feet from the threshold, and was oriented perpendicular to the runway centerline. The 1215 recorded weather observation at LGC included winds from 130 degrees at 7 knots, 10 miles visibility, temperature5 degrees C, dew point 2 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.27 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51620](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51620), registered now, S/N 5012C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M5 (220C) - Registry model: [Maule M-5-220C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-5-220c) (registry code 5460133) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A-350SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a-350ser) (registry code 27023, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5012C - Airframe hours: 922 - Engines: FRANKLIN 6A350 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LGC, Lagrange, GA - Destination: LGC, Lagrange, GA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: LGC, LaGrange-callaway Airport, runway 13, 5,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 26, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 723 total, 479 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: LGC ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 14, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75223. 239 KB in all. - Memorandum for Record - NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350980&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot Interview (item 2, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349907&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement to FAA (item 4, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351487&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF 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.