# NTSB WPR09CA421: Meyer Robert AIR CAM, N950TC, Hamilton, MT, August 28, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 27, 2009, 19:45 local (Aug 28, 2009, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Hamilton, MT - Coordinates: 46.251388, -114.125556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2514&lon=-114.1256&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74615 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA421 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74615/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74615 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA421 ## Probable cause The separation of the right main landing gear wheel due to the flight's encounter with soft terrain while landing on an unimproved river sandbar. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to attempt a landing on an unimproved off-airport surface. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyer Robert AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=056100X), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyer Robert AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=056100X), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyer Robert AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056100X), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: wheel/ski/float](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Meyer Robert AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md?model=056100X), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Meyer Robert AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=056100X), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed three off-airport takeoffs and landings on a river sandbar. During his last landing, a main landing gear wheel separated from his amateur-built twin-engine airplane when an attachment weld sheared. Witnesses were located on a river raft and saw that the airplane appeared to touchdown on a sand/gravel bar that was within 75 yards of their location. During this event, one of the airplane's wheels separated and initially traveled toward them, but then veered away and entered the river. Thereafter, the pilot added power and performed a go-around. When the pilot subsequently landed back at the departure airport, he was unable to maintain directional control of his airplane. The airplane impacted objects, and the right side of the fuselage buckled. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during his pleasure flight he performed three off-airport takeoffs and landings. During his last landing, a main landing gear wheel separated from his amateur-built twin-engine airplane when an attachment weld sheared. When the pilot subsequently landed back at the airport, he was unable to maintain directional control of his airplane. The airplane impacted objects, and the right side of the fuselage buckled. Witnesses reported that they were located on a river raft and observed the accident airplane flying 100 feet overhead. The airplane appeared to touchdown on a sand/gravel bar that was within 75 yards of their location. During this event, one of the airplane's wheels separated and initially traveled toward them, but then veered away and entered the river. Thereafter, the pilot "gunned his engines" and overflew the raft while circling the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N950TC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N950TC), registered now, S/N AC 126 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MEYER ROBERT AIR CAM - Registry model: [Meyer Robert AIR CAM](https://openairdocs.org/model/meyer-robert-air-cam) (registry code 05623KN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912S series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912s-series) (registry code 55570, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AC 126 - Airframe hours: 295 - Engines: ROTAX 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating; ROTAX 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 2009, 89 hours before - Departed: 6S5, Hamilton, MT - Destination: 6S5, Hamilton, MT - Airport: 6S5, Ravalli County, runway 34, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 3,800 total, 1,850 in this make and model, 3,650 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20090828016579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090828016579A), Aug 28, 2009: Amtr AIRCAM, Hamilton, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 27, 2009, at 2002 local time, an air-cam, N950TC, registered to and piloted by robert dale meyer, crashed on landing at the Ravalli County… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74615. 827 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 724 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318546&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318922&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.