# NTSB LAX08LA184: Mooney M20J, N1234G, Evanston, WY, June 10, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 2008, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Evanston, WY - Coordinates: 41.274723, -111.034721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2747&lon=-111.0347&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68236 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68236/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA184 ## Probable cause A collapse of the landing gear due to improper maintenance. ## 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: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he extended the landing gear while on approach for landing and got a "gear unsafe" red light indication. He recycled the landing gear and the gear light went out. The pilot called the local fixed base operator on the field and requested a flyby to confirm that the landing gear was down. Ground personnel indicated that the gear appeared to be down. The pilot accomplished the final pre-landing checks and landed the airplane. The landing gear collapsed immediately after touchdown. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a mechanic revealed that two wing skins and a metal tubular former in the belly needed to be replaced. The mechanic who inspected the landing gear stated that the gear collapsed because the over center tension for the nose wheel landing gear down locks was not properly adjusted. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 2008, approximately 1030 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N1234G, sustained substantial damage when the landing gear collapsed during the landing roll at Burns Field (EVW), Evanston, Wyoming. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight, which had originated from Rifle, Colorado, about 0800. The pilot had filed and opened a Visual Flight Rules flight plan. In a written statement, the pilot reported that when he engaged the landing gear while on approach, he got an unsafe red gear light. The pilot recycled the landing gear and checked the circuit breakers. The light then went out. The pilot contacted the local Fixed Base Operator and requested a flyby to have someone confirm that the landing gear was down. Ground personnel reported to the pilot that the gear appeared down. The pilot accomplished his final pre-landing checks and landed the airplane. Immediately after touchdown, the landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a mechanic revealed that two wing skins and a metal tubular former in the belly needed to be replaced. Two Federal Aviation Administration Form 337 approvals were required to return the airplane to service. The mechanic who performed the work said the gear collapsed due to the over center tension for the nose wheel landing gear down locks was not properly adjusted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1234G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1234G), registered now, S/N 24-1614, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1614 - Airframe hours: 3169 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2008 - Departed: RIL, Rifle, CO - Destination: EVW, Evanston, WY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: EVW, Burns Field, runway 23, 7,300 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 728 total, 482 in this make and model, 728 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 22 knots, gusting 33 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: EVW ## 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 20080610834319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080610834319A), Jun 10, 2008: Mooney M20J, Evanston, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) Landing gear collapsed after touch down resulting in substantial damage to structural elements. 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.