# NTSB ERA21LA235: Meyers Industries 200A, N489C, Marathon, FL, May 26, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 26, 2021, 16:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Marathon, FL - Coordinates: 24.726194, -81.051361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.7262&lon=-81.0514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA235 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103171/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103171 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA235 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear to fully extend during landing as a result of the underinflated right main landing gear oleo strut. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyers Industries 200A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=5650304), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyers Industries 200A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=5650304), [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 gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Meyers Industries 200A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5650304), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during final approach the nose and left main landing gear lights were illuminated green. The red “in-transit” light was illuminated for the right main landing gear. He overflew the runway and airport personnel confirmed that the right main landing gear was partially extended. He unsuccessfully attempted to cycle, manually extend, and use g-force maneuvers to extend the right main landing gear. The pilot performed a landing and kept the right wing off the ground as long as he could during the landing since the right main landing gear was partially extended. During the landing rollout, the right wing impacted the runway, the airplane veered to the right and came to rest off the right side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the right aileron. A post-accident examination of the right main landing gear revealed that the oleo strut was under inflated, therefore, the strut did not extend the wheel properly and could not retract correctly into the right main landing gear wheel well. Then, when the landing gear was extended, the wheel became lodged on the wheel well and could not extend properly. After the airplane was lifted off the runway, the right main landing gear was extended by hand and it locked into place. The most recent annual inspection was performed about 5 months before the accident, and at that time the left main landing gear actuator was serviced. The maintenance entry did not record any service to the right main landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N489C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N489C-2024-05-25), registration cancelled 2024-05-25, S/N 254, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MEYERS INDUSTRIES INC 200A - Registry model: [Meyers Industries 200A](https://openairdocs.org/model/meyers-industries-200a) (registry code 5650304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 254 - Year built: 1959 - Airframe hours: 3601 - Engines: Continental IO-520A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 2020, 14 hours before - Departed: FD51, Summerland Key, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: MTH, The Florida Keys Marathon Intl, runway 07/25, 5,008 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 9, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,524 total, 120 in this make and model, 8,146 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: MTH - METAR: KMTH 262053Z AUTO 09010KT 10SM FEW031 29/19 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP200 T02890194 56016 ## 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 20210526010109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210526010109A), May 26, 2021: Meyers Industries Inc 200A, Marathon, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed on runway with right main landing gear retracted. ## Other investigations on N489C (2) 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 CEN22LA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA252), Jun 16, 2022: Meyers Industries 200A (N489C), Weslaco, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. - [NTSB OAK70F0098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK70F0098), Aug 2, 1969: Myers 200A (N489C), Vacaville, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103171. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12333564&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA235%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12463290&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20FAA%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12463201&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA235-Rel.pdf - Most recent annual inspecton (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12460469&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N489C%20AF%20log%20-%20Annual_Redacted-Rel.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.