# NTSB NYC02LA031: Maule M7-260, N5511G, North Lima, OH, November 3, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 3, 2001, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: North Lima, OH
- Coordinates: 40.984443, -80.691108
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9844&lon=-80.6911&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53801
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53801/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA031

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear, which resulted in a wheels down landing on water.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear retraction - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - wheels down landing in water (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot owned the "amphibian" airplane, which was equipped with both floats and a retractable wheel landing gear configuration.  The pilot performed two runway landings at nearby airport, then returned to land at his private lake.  The pilot said he inadvertently landed on the lake with the landing gear wheels in the extended position and the airplane flipped over.

## Factual narrative

On November 3, 2001, about 1500 eastern standard time, a Maule M7-260, N5511G, was substantially damaged while landing on a private lake in North Lima, Ohio.  The certificated private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot owned the "amphibian" airplane, which was equipped with both floats and a retractable wheel landing gear configuration.

In a written statement, the pilot said he performed two runway landings at the Youngstown Elser Metro Airport (4G4), Youngstown, Ohio, and then returned to land on his private lake located about 2 miles north of 4G4.  The pilot said he inadvertently landed on the lake with the landing gear wheels in the extended position and the airplane flipped over.  He further said he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane.

The pilot reported 562 hours of total flight experience, with 300 hours in make and model.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5511G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5511G), registered now, S/N 26014C, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Maule M7-260
- Registry model: [Maule M-7-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-260) (registry code 5460111) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26014C
- Airframe hours: 43
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-V4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William A. Bieber
- Registered owner: Mill Creek Farms Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 4G4, YOUNGSTOWN, OH
- Destination: OI76, North Lima, OH
- Airport: OI76, Bieber's Seaplane Base

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 28, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 563 total, 300 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: YNG, 17 nm away

## 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 20011103037999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011103037999A), Nov 3, 2001: No damage. (-23) The pilot was making a water landing on his private lake. The landing gear was in the down position. The aircraft flipped over in the water.

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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