# NTSB MIA05LA081: Beech C-45H, N231SK, Panama City, FL, March 18, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 18, 2005, 06:50 local (12:50 UTC) - Place: Panama City, FL - Coordinates: 30.212223, -85.682777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2122&lon=-85.6828&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham, Alabama - NTSB case key (mKey): 61208 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61208/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA081 ## Probable cause The overload failure of the left main landing gear for undetermined reasons during the landing roll resullting in collapse of the left main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - reason for occurrence undetermined - landing gear - overload (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the approach to Panama City-Bay County International Airport was uneventful. He lowered the landing gear and observed "3 in the green" and complied with the landing checklist. He reported a normal touchdown with full flaps, and applied moderate reverse thrust with very light brakes. Approximately halfway through rollout, the tower informed him of smoke from his left main gear. About 1 second later, the left wing "dipped" about a foot. Seconds later, the left gear collapsed, the propeller contacted the runway, and the airplane rotated to the left about 70 degrees, coming to rest upright on runway 23. Examination of the left main landing gear cylinder top brace assembly (P/N 404-188406) by the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed evidence of overstress on all fracture surfaces. ## Factual narrative On March 18, 2005, about 0650 central standard time, a Beech C-45H, N231SK, registered and operated by Jim Hankins Air Service, Inc., experienced collapse of the left main landing gear during the landing roll at Panama City-Bay County International Airport, Panama City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 135 non-scheduled, domestic, cargo flight from Southwest Georgia Regional Airport, Albany, Georgia, to Panama City-Bay County International Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 0505, from Southwest Georgia Regional Airport. The pilot stated that the approach to Panama City-Bay County International Airport was uneventful. He lowered the landing gear and observed "3 in the green" and complied with the landing checklist. He reported a normal touchdown with full flaps, and applied moderate reverse thrust with very light brakes. Approximately halfway through rollout, the tower informed him of smoke from his left main gear. About 1 second later, the left wing "dipped" about a foot. Seconds later, the left gear collapsed, the propeller contacted the runway, and the airplane rotated to the left about 70 degrees, coming to rest upright on runway 23. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the left main landing gear cylinder top brace assembly (P/N 404-188406), was fractured. Examination of the left main landing gear cylinder top brace assembly (P/N 404-188406) by the NTSB Materials Laboratory, located in Washington, D.C., revealed the top aft tube and lower angled tube were fractured at or near the cylinder attachment points; whereas, the top forward tube was fractured at the left-most welds where the brace connects to the aircraft structure. Optical examination of all of the fracture surfaces of the welds revealed shear lips and rough fracture features consistent with tensile/shear overstress. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination of all fracture surface regions in the welds revealed ductile dimples, confirming overstress fracture. The other two fractures in the tubes propagated on 45 degree slant planes with features consistent with overstress. The airplane minus the retained top brace assembly was released to Guy P. Owen, Director of Maintenance for Jim Hankins Air Service, Inc, on April 2, 2005. The retained top brace assembly was also released to Guy P. Owen, on July 12, 2005. ## Aircraft - Registration: N231SK (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech C-45H - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AF-856 - Airframe hours: 35287.2 - Engines: Garrett TPE331-1-1018 620 horsepower turbo prop; Garrett TPE331-1-1018 620 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Jim Hankins Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 1, 2004, 110.4 hours before - Departed: ABY, ALBANY, GA - Destination: PFN, Panama City, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PFN, Panama City-Bay Co Intl, runway 32, 6,308 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 5,544 total, 987 in this make and model, 5,385 as pilot in command, 97 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 9 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KPFN ## 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 20050318004909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050318004909A), Mar 18, 2005: Beech C45H, Panama City, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Failure of the main landing gear cylinder and top brace assembly allowing the main gear tire to turn ninety degrees. The resultant drag caused failure of… 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.