Summary
On March 29, 1994, a Mooney M-20C (N4045N) was involved in an incident near Hyampom, CA. All 4 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES BY ASSURING THAT THE LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM WAS PROPERLY ENGAGED.
On March 28, 1994, at 1630 hours Pacific standard time, a Mooney M-20C, N4045N, gear collapsed while landing on runway 14 at Hyampom Airport, Hyampom, California. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor any of the three passengers were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Hayfork Airport, Hayfork, California, at 1615 hours.
The pilot reported in a telephone interview conducted on March 28, 1994, that the landing gear is a mechanically operated system. During the landing roll, the landing gear handle disengaged from its latching mechanism and the landing gears retracted.
This incident is documented in NTSB report LAX94LA175. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4045N.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES BY ASSURING THAT THE LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM WAS PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On March 28, 1994, at 1630 hours Pacific standard time, a Mooney M-20C, N4045N, gear collapsed while landing on runway 14 at Hyampom Airport, Hyampom, California. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor any of the three passengers were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Hayfork Airport, Hayfork, California, at 1615 hours.
The pilot reported in a telephone interview conducted on March 28, 1994, that the landing gear is a mechanically operated system. During the landing roll, the landing gear handle disengaged from its latching mechanism and the landing gears retracted. He also said that he encountered turbulence when he extended that landing gear.
The Safety Board retained Mr. Paul Israel, General Aviation Enterprises, Hayfork, California, to examine the airplane's landing gear system. Mr. Israel reported that he was unable to dislodge the handle (aka Johnson Bar) after placing the airplane on jacks with the landing gear extended. The handle was in the locked position. He also said that he did not find any landing gear system defects.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX94LA175