# NTSB SEA05CA131: Maule M-7-235B, N333DD, Hermiston, OR, June 24, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2005, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Hermiston, OR - Coordinates: 45.816665, -119.265274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8167&lon=-119.2653&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 61818 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61818/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA131 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff ground roll which resulted in overload damage to the main landing gear. During the landing roll, it was not possible to maintain aircraft control due to the previously damaged gear. Encounter with rough terrain during the takeoff ground roll, and an overloaded and subsequently collapsed main landing gear were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear - collapsed (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the take off ground roll on the sod covered airstrip, the left main wheel hit something, possibly a badger hole. The pilot stated that be began to lose directional control, so he pulled the airplane into the air. The airplane remained airborne for a few seconds, then touched down hard on the left main wheel again. The pilot was able to get the airplane airborne and circled the airstrip. A person on the ground was in radio contact with the pilot and reported that the left main gear was collapsed. At this time there appeared to be no other damage and the pilot decided to fly to another airport with a paved runway. The pilot set-up for a landing in a "full stall 2-point landing on the right side of the runway." When the left side came down on the collapsed gear, the aircraft slid off the left side of the runway and turned about 45 degrees to the left before coming to a stop. During the landing roll, the airplane sustained a propeller strike and the left side horizontal stabilizer contacted the surface resulting in substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2005, about 1000 Pacific daylight time, a Maule M-7-235B, N333DD, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, was unable to maintain directional control during the landing roll at Hermiston Municipal, Hermiston, Oregon, due to damage sustained to the landing gear during a previous takeoff from a private airstrip. During the landing roll at Hermiston, the airplane ground looped. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and pilot rated passenger were not injured. The flight had departed from a private airstrip near La Grande, Oregon, about 30 minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that during the take off ground roll on the sod covered airstrip, the left main wheel hit something, possibly a badger hole. The pilot stated that be began to lose directional control, so he pulled the airplane into the air. The airplane remained airborne for a few seconds, then touched down hard on the left main wheel again. The pilot was able to get the airplane airborne and circled the airstrip. A person on the ground was in radio contact with the pilot and reported that the left main gear was collapsed. At this time there appeared to be no other damage and the pilot decided to fly to Hermiston, which has a paved runway. The pilot set-up for a landing to runway 22 and accomplished a "full stall 2-point landing on the right side of the runway." When the left side came down on the collapsed gear, the aircraft slid off the left side of the runway and turned about 45 degrees to the left before coming to a stop. During the landing roll, the airplane sustained a propeller strike and the left side horizontal stabilizer contacted the surface resulting in substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333DD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333DD-2015-12-16), registration cancelled 2015-12-16, S/N 23014C (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Maule M-7-235B - Registry model: [Maule M-7-235B](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-7-235b) (registry code 5460109) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23014C - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B4 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul J. Dickerson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: La Grande, OR - Destination: HRI, Hermiston, OR - Airport: HRI, Hermiston Muni, runway 22 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2; flight hours: 8,100 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050624013169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050624013169A), Jun 24, 2005: Maule M7235B, Hermiston, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) On 06/24/2005 at approximately 09:30 PDT, while taking off from an uncharted privately owned grass airstrip located approximately 1.2 miles north of… 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.