Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Marathon, Florida
Accident Number: ERA21LA235
Date and Time: May 26, 2021, 16:55 Local
Registration: N489C
Aircraft: MEYERS INDUSTRIES INC 200A
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Landing gear collapse
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
According to the pilot, during final approach the nose and left main landing gear lights were illuminated green. The red “in-transit” light was illuminated for the right main landing gear. He overflew the runway and airport personnel confirmed that the right main landing gear was partially extended. He unsuccessfully attempted to cycle, manually extend, and use g-force maneuvers to extend the right main landing gear. The pilot performed a landing and kept the right wing off the ground as long as he could during the landing since the right main landing gear was partially extended. During the landing rollout, the right wing impacted the runway, the airplane veered to the right and came to rest off the right side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the right aileron. A post-accident examination of the right main landing gear revealed that the oleo strut was under inflated, therefore, the strut did not extend the wheel properly and could not retract correctly into the right main landing gear wheel well. Then, when the landing gear was extended, the wheel became lodged on the wheel well and could not extend properly. After the airplane was lifted off the runway, the right main landing gear was extended by hand and it locked into place. The most recent annual inspection was performed about 5 months before the accident, and at that time the left main landing gear actuator was serviced. The maintenance entry did not record any service to the right main landing gear.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The failure of the right main landing gear to fully extend during landing as a result of the underinflated right main landing gear oleo strut.
Findings
Personnel issues Scheduled/routine maintenance - Maintenance personnel
Aircraft Main gear strut/axle/truck - Not serviced/maintained
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing Landing gear collapse (Defining event)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 68,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: December 14, 2020
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: December 9, 2019
Flight Time: 8524 hours (Total, all aircraft), 120 hours (Total, this make and model), 8146 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 58 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 30 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: MEYERS INDUSTRIES INC
Registration: N489C
Model/Series: 200A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1959
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 254
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: December 11, 2020 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 14 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3601 Hrs at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-520A
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 285 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: MTH,8 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 16:53 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 252°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 3100 ft AGL
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots / Turbulence Type
Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 90°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.12 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 19°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Summerland Key, FL (FD51)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Marathon, FL
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 16:00 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: THE FLORIDA KEYS MARATHON INTL MTH
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 5 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 07/25
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5008 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop; Traffic pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 24.726194,-81.051361(est)