# NTSB SEA03LA104: Mooney M20C, N6806U, Boise, ID, June 14, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2003, 21:20 local (Jun 14, 2003, 03:20 UTC)
- Place: Boise, ID
- Coordinates: 43.551387, -116.217224
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5514&lon=-116.2172&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57246
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57246/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA104

## Probable cause

Failure of the welds on the nose landing gear retraction truss during taxi for takeoff..

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear retraction on ground, taxi - to takeoff
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure (cause)

## Analysis

While taxiing for takeoff the left main landing gear and nose landing gear both collapsed.  The airplane skidded to a stop, coming to rest on its left wing and propeller, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing.  FAA Airworthiness Inspector revealed that there was a failure of the welds on the nose landing gear retraction truss (LH).

## Factual narrative

On June 13, 2003, approximately 2120 mountain daylight time, a Mooney M20C single-engine airplane, N6806U, was substantially damaged during a gear collapse while taxiing for take off at the Boise Air Terminal/Gowan Field, Boise, Idaho. The airplane was registered to Mooney Forfour Inc., Shawnee, Kansas, and operated by the pilot. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the proposed 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, which was destined for Seattle, Washington.

In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, and according to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that while taxiing to runway 10R for takeoff, and without any warning, the left main landing gear and nose landing gear both collapsed.  The airplane skidded to a stop, coming to rest on its left wing and propeller.

An FAA inspector, who examined the aircraft, reported substantial damage to the left wing, approximately one-third of the way inboard from the wing tip. The inspector also reported that all three propeller blades had been bent forward.  A subsequent examination by an FAA Airworthiness Inspector revealed there was a failure of the welds on the nose landing gear retraction truss (LH).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6806U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6806U-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 2521, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Mooney M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2521
- Engines: Lycoming O&V0-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BOI, Boise, ID
- Destination: SEA, Seattle, WA
- Airport: BOI, Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field, runway 10R, 9,763 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 24, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,790 total, 1,463 in this make and model, 1,680 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 15 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 50° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: BOI

## 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 20030614011719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030614011719A), Jun 14, 2003: Mooney M20C, Boise, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) While taxiing out for takeoff, the nose wheel and the left main landing gear collapsed causing substantial damage to the left wing and the propeller.

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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