# NTSB ERA12CA079: Beech C-45G, N75Q, Lyman, MS, November 19, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 19, 2011, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Lyman, MS
- Coordinates: 30.510278, -89.147224 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5103&lon=-89.1472&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82348
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82348/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82348
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA079

## Probable cause

The collapse of the right main landing gear during landing due to an encounter with soft terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C-45G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=1151014), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C-45G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=1151014), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Beech C-45G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=1151014), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/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: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech C-45G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1151014), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that, during landing, the main landing gear wheels touched down on the turf runway at an indicated speed of 90 mph. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear encountered a soft spot on the runway and collapsed. The right propeller contacted the ground, the airplane slid forward on its nose, and ground looped toward the right, incurring substantial damage to the wing and fuselage, before coming to a stop opposite the direction of landing. The pilot attributed the collapse of the right main landing gear to the failure of the right main gear torque knee link. An examination of the right main gear torque knee link revealed that the link fractured in overload, which allowed the lower portion of the right landing gear, including the wheel assembly, to twist and separate.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he and the passengers had just completed a local sightseeing flight and were returning back to the private airport from whence they departed. The approach was unremarkable. On landing the main gear wheels touched down onto the turf runway at an indicated speed of 90 mph. Upon the airplane settling, it encountered a soft spot on the turf runway. The right propeller made contact with the ground. The airplane then slid forward on its nose and ground looped toward the right incurring substantial damage to the wing and fuselage before coming to a stop 180 degrees from the direction of landing. An examination of the right main gear torque knee link by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the link fractured in overload; permitting the lower right gear, wheel assembly, to twist. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75Q), registered now, S/N AF-423, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C-45G
- Registry model: [Beech C-45G](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c-45g) (registry code 1151014) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AF-423
- Airframe hours: 5567
- Engines: P&W R-985 SERIES 450 horsepower reciprocating; P&W R-985 SERIES 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 2011
- Departed: MS82, Lyman, MS
- Destination: MS82, Lyman, MS
- Airport: MS82, Shade Tree Field, runway 17, 2,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 14,811 total, 16 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: GPT, 7 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 20111119028019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111119028019A), Nov 19, 2011: Beech C-45G, Lyman, MS, Substantial damage. On November 19, 2011, approximately 1045 CST (LCL) a B-18 carrying 7 souls, 6 passengers and one crew, was landing at MS82 after a local sightseeing flight.…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82348. 7.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 504 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358890&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Miscellaneous: Initial Notification (item 2, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361745&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Initial%20Notification-Master.PDF
- Photo 1) View of the Fractured Right Main Landing Gear Torque Knee Link. Photo Provided by Federal Aviation Administration. (item 3, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358899&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201)%20View%20of%20the%20Fractured%20Right%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20Torque%20Knee%20Link.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF
- Photo 2) Close up View of the Fractured Surface. Photo Provided by Federal Aviation Administration. (item 4, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202)%20Close%20up%20View%20of%20the%20Fractured%20Surface.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF
- Photo 3) Another Close up View of the Fractured Surface. Photo Provided by Federal Aviation Administration. (item 5, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203)%20Another%20Close%20up%20View%20of%20the%20Fractured%20Surface.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.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.

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