# NTSB LAX94LA175: Mooney M-20C, N4045N, Hyampom, CA, March 29, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 1994, 16:30 local (Mar 29, 1994, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Hyampom, CA
- Coordinates: 40.599731, -123.400405 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5997&lon=-123.4004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28706
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28706/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA175

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES BY ASSURING THAT THE LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM WAS PROPERLY ENGAGED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - gear down and locked - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY ENGAGE THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE IN THE EXTENDED POSITION LOCKING MECHANISM. DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE DISLODGED FROM THE LOCKING MECHANISM AND THE LANDING GEARS RETRACTED. THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM OPERATED NORMALLY.

## Factual narrative

On March 28, 1994, at 1630 hours Pacific standard time, a Mooney M-20C, N4045N, gear collapsed while landing on runway 14 at Hyampom Airport, Hyampom, California.  The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight.  The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage.  Neither the certificated private pilot nor any of the three passengers were injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at Hayfork Airport, Hayfork, California, at 1615 hours.

The pilot reported in a telephone interview conducted on March 28, 1994, that the landing gear is a mechanically operated system.  During the landing roll, the landing gear handle disengaged from its latching mechanism and the landing gears retracted.  He also said that he encountered turbulence when he extended that landing gear.

The Safety Board retained Mr. Paul Israel, General Aviation Enterprises, Hayfork, California, to examine the airplane's landing gear system.  Mr. Israel reported that he was unable to dislodge the handle (aka Johnson Bar) after placing the airplane on jacks with the landing gear extended.  The handle was in the locked position.  He also said that he did not find any landing gear system defects.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4045N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4045N), registered now, S/N 680025, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 680025
- Airframe hours: 3770
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Meredith, Randall J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1993, 217 hours before
- Departed: Q72, HAYFORK, CA
- Destination: Q75
- Airport: Q75, Hyampom, runway 14, 2,980 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,566 total, 1,519 in this make and model, 69 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19940328006819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940328006819A), Mar 28, 1994: Mooney M20C, Hyampom, CA, Substantial damage. Gear collapsed on landing. No defects found. Pilot needs to make sure johnson bar is locked in down positon.

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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