# NTSB MIA89LA205: Mooney M22, N7738M, Vero Beach, FL, July 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 23, 1989, 08:08 local (12:08 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 27.640647, -80.390754 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6406&lon=-80.3908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32468
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA205
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32468/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA205

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF AN OLD WELD REPAIR ON THE NOSE GEAR STRUT HOUSING.  A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY OTHER (UNKNOWN) MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear strut - failure,partial (cause)
  - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG THE LNDG ROLL, THE ACFT SWERVED INTO A DITCH & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE NOSE GEAR REVEALED THE STRUT HOUSING HAD FAILED AT THE STEERING COLLAR, WHERE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY WELDED. AN EXAM OF THE OLD WELD REVEALED THERE HAD BEEN INSUFFICIENT WELD PENETRATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7738M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7738M-1999-01-04), registration cancelled 1999-01-04, S/N 700005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M22
- Registry model: [Mooney M22](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m22) (registry code 5870402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 70005
- Airframe hours: 2600
- Engines: LYCOMING TIO-541-A1A 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Associated Rack Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 1989, 10 hours before
- Departed: 18S, DOUGLAS, GA
- Destination: VRB
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: VRB, Vero Beach, runway 11, 5,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,414 total, 1,150 in this make and model, 1,350 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB

## 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 19890723028669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890723028669A), Jul 23, 1989: Mooney M22, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Veered off runway on landing and ran into a ditch. Improper weld on strut near steering collar had failed.

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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