# NTSB ERA14LA295: Maule M4-220C, N535TJ, Cherryville, NC, June 17, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 2014, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Cherryville, NC - Coordinates: 35.452777, -81.458885 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4528&lon=-81.4589&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 27, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89455 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89455/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89455 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA295 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent main landing gear collapse. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-4-220C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5460114), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing on the private grass strip, the main landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination of the main landing gear assembly revealed that both tubes of the "A" frame assembly on each main landing gear exhibited buckling about mid-length and that both of the main landing gear struts were bent in the positive direction, which is consistent with a hard landing. No corrosion was noted on the mounting hardware, landing gear attachment mounts, or main landing gear structure. No other anomalies were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot improperly flared the airplane, which resulted in a hard landing and main landing gear collapse. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2014, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Maule M4-220C, N535TJ, was substantially damaged during landing at a private grass strip near Cherryville, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The flight originated at Shelby-Cleveland County Regional Airport (EHO), Shelby, North Carolina, around 1200. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to refuel the airplane at EHO and then return to the private grass strip. The pilot indicated that during touchdown on the grass strip the main landing gear collapsed. He also stated that the landing "seemed no harder" than any other landing. The airplane came to rest in taller grass at the edge of the grass strip and the occupants egressed without incident. The pilot reported that the most recent annual inspection was performed on February 14, 2014, and at that time the airplane had accumulated 2157 total flight hours. The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multiengine land, and a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine land, single-engine sea, and gliders. In addition, he held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first-class medical certificate was issued on March 3, 2014. The pilot reported approximately 23,000 total hours of flight experience, of which 65 of those hours were in the accident airplane make and model. According to a FAA inspector, the fuselage sustained substantial damage near the main landing gear attach points. A postaccident examination of the damaged main landing gear assembly was performed by removing the landing gear fairings. The landing gear strut consisted of an "A" frame assembly and an oleo strut that extended from the fuselage to the gear hub. Both tubes of the "A" frame assembly on each main landing gear exhibited buckling about mid length and both of the main landing gear struts were bent in the positive direction. There was no corrosion noted on the mounting hardware, landing gear attach mounts, or main landing gear assembly of the airplane. No other anomalies were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N535TJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N535TJ-2018-08-10), registration cancelled 2018-08-10, S/N 2092C, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M4-220C - Registry model: [Maule M-4-220C](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-4-220c) (registry code 5460114) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6V 350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6v-350-series) (registry code 27043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2092C - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 2157 - Engines: Franklin 6a-350-c1 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 2014 - Departed: EHO, Shelby, NC - Destination: N/A, Cherryville, NC - Airport: N/A, Private Airstrip, runway 34, 1,600 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 15, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 23,000 total, 65 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 206 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: EHO, 13 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 20140617012139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140617012139A), Jun 17, 2014: Maule M-4-220C, Cherryville, NC, Substantial damage. On 6/17/14 at 1230 EST, N535TJ, a Maule M-4-220C, registered to and piloted by [privacy data omitted]. Pilot was returning to original departure point after… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89455. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record – FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 397 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Damaged Landing Gear (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 679 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Damaged%20Landing%20Gear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Diagram of Main Landing Gear (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 603 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Diagram%20of%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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. --- 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.