# NTSB MIA90IA005: Mooney M20F, N52DB, Pensacola, FL, October 6, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 6, 1989, 17:52 local (22:52 UTC)
- Place: Pensacola, FL
- Coordinates: 30.470581, -87.190246 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4706&lon=-87.1902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32571
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90IA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32571/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90IA005

## Probable cause

IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE LANDING GEAR WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERLOAD FAILURE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Complete gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - overload
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

TWO DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT, THE LANDING GEAR ACTUATOR & COMPONENTS OF THE LANDING GEAR WERE REPLACED & THE GEAR RIGGING WAS CHECKED. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN ON SEVERAL LEGS. AFTER GEAR EXTENSION, THE OWNER HEARD A POPPING NOISE, THOUGH THE GEAR EXTENDED NORMALLY. MAINT FACILITY PRESIDENT ADVISED IT WAS NORMAL. THE FLT DEPARTED & EN ROUTE WAS UNEVENTFUL, BUT AFTER EXTENDING THE LANDING GEAR, THE SAME NOISE WAS HEARD. AFTER TOUCHDOWN DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. ACFT WAS FERRIED TO A FACILITY FOR REPAIRS. EXAM OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED THAT THE LANDING GEAR ACTUATOR SUPPORT BRACKET FAILED IN TENSION OVERLOAD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52DB), registered now, S/N 22-1399 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F
- Registry model: [Mooney M20F](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (registry code 5870214) (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: 22-1399
- Airframe hours: 2033
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eckles, Alfred H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 1989, 29 hours before
- Departed: VNC, VENICE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PNS, Pensacola Regional, runway 16, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 150 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PNS

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19891006066179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891006066179I), Oct 6, 1989: Mooney M20F, Pensacola, FL, Minor damage. Landing gear collapsed on landing. Was returning after extensive landing gear work.

## Other investigations on N52DB (1)

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 NYC06IA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06IA036), Nov 24, 2005: Mooney M20F (N52DB), Cadiz, KY, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: Fuel starvation, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

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.