Hermiston Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hermiston, Oregon 97838
Thursday, December 28, 2000 16:10 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that when he lowered the landing gear, he noted that the gear unsafe light was illuminated. Several attempts were made to either extend or retract the landing gear both mechanically and manually. After all attempts were exhausted, the pilot initiated a landing to the grass area between the runway and the taxiway. When the airplane touched down, the landing gear collapsed and the aircraft slid on its belly. As the airplane slowed, the keel caught on a berm and the aircraft started to turn. The left wing contacted the ground which damaged the wing spar. Inspection of the landing gear revealed that three out of the four snap rings holding the pistons for the landing gear actuators failed. The snap rings are "on condition" items and were last returned to service in 1991.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Three out of four snap rings holding the pistons for the landing gear actuators failed which resulted in the landing gear collapsing during landing. On ground collision with a berm was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/28/2000
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City HERMISTON
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97838
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 454900N
Event Location Longitude 1191500W
Event Location Airport Hermiston Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HRI
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 644
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10331
NTSB Notification Source FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Dec 29 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1412
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Oct 24 2003 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office HILLSBORO, OREGON

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N69058
NTSB Number SEA01LA034
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grumman
Aircraft Model G-44
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1291
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 63
Airframe Hours 5684
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ag Northwest
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 599
Aircraft Owner City HERMISTON
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97838
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name EUGENE F. MAAHS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MMV
Departure City MCMINNVILLE
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code HRI
Destination City HERMISTON
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 1 2001 5:56PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 4500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --