# NTSB SEA03LA063: Herb Six Northstar, N606HS, Medford, OR, April 15, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 2003, 13:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Medford, OR - Coordinates: 42.378334, -122.866943 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3783&lon=-122.8669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56833 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56833/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA063 ## Probable cause The compressive buckling and collapse of the right main landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run - running takeoff - premature, pilot in command - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - buckled (cause) ## Analysis The pilot of the homebuilt Herb Six Northstar was cleared for takeoff on runway 32 at the Medford airport. He made a wings level rolling left turn from an intermediate taxiway and accelerated to takeoff while raising the tail. During this maneuver the right main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft ground looped to a stop. Post-crash examination revealed the right main landing gear shock strut cross tube had buckled in compression in two locations and although the aircraft was in a left turn onto the runway the right main landing gear/wheel was found folded underneath the center of the fuselage. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 2003, at 1305 Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt Herb Six Northstar, N606HS, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear collapsed on takeoff roll at Medford, Oregon. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14CFR91, and was destined for a local airstrip in the Medford area. The pilot reported (refer to NTSB Form 6120.1 attached) that after his pre-takeoff checks he was cleared for takeoff on runway 32 from the A-5 intersection (refer to attached diagram). He stated that "...I made a wings level left turn onto runway 32, advanced [the] throttle [and] raised the tail. At that moment the right front of the fuselage dropped. I thought I had blown my right main tire. I cut power [and] tried to keep straight on [the] centerline. [I] slowed to 5-10 mph [and] ground looped to [the] left...." Additionally, he reported in part in the "recommendations" section of his submitted NTSB Form 6120.1 (attached), that "...cause was [the] failure of [the] r[igh]t gear leg strut that failed in compression...." Post-accident examination revealed the right main landing gear shock strut cross tube (refer to graphic images 1 and 2) buckled in two locations: 1) at the wheel axle attach bolt and 2) several inches outboard of the shock strut fairing outboard edge. The buckling was characteristic of compression rather than tensile loading. The right main landing gear (wheel and "vee" strut) was observed folded under the aircraft's center fuselage with the weight resting on the outboard circumferential surface of the tire (refer to graphic images 3 and 4). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N606HS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N606HS), registered now, S/N 118, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Herb Six Northstar - Registry model: [Six Herb NORTH STAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/six-herb-north-star) (registry code 05610SW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 118 - Airframe hours: 11 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Six, Herbert H. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, February 15, 2003, 11 hours before - Departed: MFR, Medford, OR - Destination: OR96, Medford, OR - Airport: MFR, Rogue Valley Intnl-Medford, runway 32, 8,798 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 11, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 11 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: MFR ## 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 20030415004919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030415004919A), Apr 15, 2003: Amtr NORTHSTAR, Medford, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) During takeoff roll, while aircraft still had weight on wheels, the right main landing gear collapsed. Pilot retarded the throttle and the aircraft came… 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.