Helena Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Helena, Montana 59601
Saturday, August 20, 1994 2:10 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER LANDING AND EXITING ON TO THE TAXIWAY, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE BROKEN DOWN LOCK HOOK, LINK, FITTING, AND PIN REVEALED FRACTURES TYPICAL OF AN OVERSTRESS SEPARATION. THESE FAILURES WERE THE RESULT OF THE DOWN LOCK HOOK NOT PROPERLY ENGAGING THE LOCK PLATE ON THE DRAG LINK, EITHER FROM INADEQUATE RIGGING OR FROM EXCESSIVE BINDING OF THE FITTING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

LANDING GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM OVERLOAD AND IMPROPER RIGGING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/20/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 210
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City HELENA
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59601
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HELENA REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HLN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 3873
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 130 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID HLN
Elevation of weather observation facility 3873
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4206
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1744
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 20 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1215
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N14MV
NTSB Number SEA94LA218
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model 99
Aircraft Series Identifier 99
Aircraft Serial Number U59
Certified Max Gross Weight 10900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRECISION AIRLEASE INTER.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 5
Aircraft Owner City PETERBOROUGH
Aircraft Owner State OF
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALPINE AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 691
Operator City PROVO
Operator State UT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 84603
Operator Code TIMA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BIL
Departure City BILLINGS
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 115
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code HLN
Destination City
Destination State HL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --