Cessna 172RG N6231V

Summary

On 21 August 1999 at about 14:59 local time, a Cessna 172RG registered N6231V, operated by Golden Express Aviation, was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida, 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

21 August 1999 at 14:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Miami, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Kendall-Tamiami Executive (TMB)

Coordinates

25.6490, -80.4106

Aircraft

Cessna 172RG

Registration

N6231V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Golden Express Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA99LA233

Nobody was injured.

The delay by the pilot-in-command to extend the gear resulting in collapse of the main landing gear after touchdown. Factors in the accident were the inoperative gear warning system associated with the throttle due to the broken wire at the throttle microswitch, and the overstress failure of the rudder trim chain master link clip which resulted in disconnection of the rudder trim while trimmed full left.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that after takeoff while climbing through 500 feet, the airplane abruptly and uncommanded, yawed to the left. He attempted to correct with rudder trim but the trim wheel turned freely. The flight remained in the traffic pattern and while on short final approach, the controller advised the pilot to go-around as the landing gear was not extended. The pilot lowered the landing gear but landed before the main landing gear locked in place. He stated that he heard the gear warning horn while on short final approach with the flaps extended. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that a wire at the micro-switch for the throttle gear warning was broken; the wire was reconnected and the warning horn operated normally. The rudder trim actuator and trim wheel were fully displaced to the left, and the master link for the rudder trim chain was noted to be bent and the master link lock clip was fractured. Metallurgical examination of the lock clip revealed it failed due to overstress failure. Post accident retraction and extension tests of the landing gear revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.