Maule M-7-235B N333DD

Summary

On 24 June 2005 at about 17:00 local time, a Maule M-7-235B registered N333DD was involved in an accident near Hermiston, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 June 2005 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hermiston, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Hermiston Muni (HRI)

Coordinates

45.8167, -119.2653

Aircraft

Maule M-7-235B

Registration

N333DD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

La Grande → Hermiston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA05CA131

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff ground roll which resulted in overload damage to the main landing gear. During the landing roll, it was not possible to maintain aircraft control due to the previously damaged gear. Encounter with rough terrain during the takeoff ground roll, and an overloaded and subsequently collapsed main landing gear were factors.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the take off ground roll on the sod covered airstrip, the left main wheel hit something, possibly a badger hole. The pilot stated that be began to lose directional control, so he pulled the airplane into the air. The airplane remained airborne for a few seconds, then touched down hard on the left main wheel again. The pilot was able to get the airplane airborne and circled the airstrip. A person on the ground was in radio contact with the pilot and reported that the left main gear was collapsed. At this time there appeared to be no other damage and the pilot decided to fly to another airport with a paved runway. The pilot set-up for a landing in a "full stall 2-point landing on the right side of the runway." When the left side came down on the collapsed gear, the aircraft slid off the left side of the runway and turned about 45 degrees to the left before coming to a stop. During the landing roll, the airplane sustained a propeller strike and the left side horizontal stabilizer contacted the surface resulting in substantial damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.