# NTSB WPR13LA189: Beech 95-C55, N153NL, Santa Monica, CA, April 12, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 2013, 13:35 local (20:35 UTC) - Place: Santa Monica, CA - Coordinates: 34.015834, -118.45111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0158&lon=-118.4511&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86640 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86640/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86640 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA189 ## Probable cause The left main wheel locking up during the landing roll, which resulted in the deflation of the tire, the left main landing gear collapse, and the subsequent loss of control during the runway exit. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech 95-C55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=1152708), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 95-C55, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=1152708), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) ## Analysis After touchdown and deceleration, as the airplane began to exit the runway, its left brake locked and the tire deflated. Shortly thereafter, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane spun about the left wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the left brake appeared normal and released properly, and the left main gear turned normally while the airplane was towed. However, the left main tire had a flat spot and had been worn completely through the tread and plies, indicative of the wheel being locked during the landing roll. The left main tire subsequently deflated and the left main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in the airplane veering sharply left during the turn to exit the runway. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 2013, about 1335 Pacific daylight time, a Beechcraft 95-C55 Baron, N153NL, was on the landing roll when the left main landing gear collapsed at the Santa Monica Municipal Airport, Santa Monica, California. Schuster Aviation LLC, owned and operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot departed Montgomery Field Airport, San Diego, California, about 1245, with a planned destination of Santa Monica. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.The pilot stated that after he landed on runway 21, the airplane's ground speed decelerated to about 15 to 25 knots. As he prepared to exit the runway, the airplane's left brake locked and the tire deflated. Shortly thereafter, the left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane spun about the left wing. The pilot opined that the landing gear collapsed as a result of the tire's debris interfering with the system. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, an Air Traffic Controller observed the airplane during the landing rollout. He stated that white smoke was emitting from the left main landing gear and when the airplane was turning off the runway, the left gear collapsed and the wing dipped to the ground. The airplane came to rest in the safety area near the end of runway 21. Following the accident, the airplane was manually lifted on jacks and a temporary brace was installed on the left main retract assembly to enable the airplane to be towed. According to the FAA inspector, the left main tire had a flat spot and was worn completely through the tread and plies, indicative of a locked wheel condition during landing/rollout. A post accident examination revealed that the left brake appeared normal and released properly, and the left main turned normally while the airplane was towed. He further stated that based on the observed physical and photographic evidence, the left main tire was locked up during the landing/braking/rollout resulting in the airplane veering sharply left during the rollout. The inspector opined that the left main gear collapsed likely due to the side loads from the sharp left turn at speed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N153NL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N153NL-2014-07-14), registration cancelled 2014-07-14, S/N TE-5, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 95-C55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-C55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-c55) (registry code 1152708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TE-5 - Airframe hours: 5565 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2013, 60 hours before - Departed: MYF, San Diego, CA - Destination: SMO, Santa Monica, CA - Airport: SMO, Santa Monica Municipal Airport, runway 21, 4,973 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 18, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 1,431 total, 207 in this make and model, 1,282 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: SMO ## 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 20130412005349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130412005349A), Apr 12, 2013: Beech 95-C55, Santa Monica, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed on runway 21 at smo, and during braking/rollout the left main tire skidded and deflated. The deflated tire caused aircraft to veer left during… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86640. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.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.