ASN Aircraft accident Beechcraft 99 Airliner N14MV Helena Airport, MT (HLN)
ASN logo
 

Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Saturday 20 August 1994
Time:02:10
Type:Silhouette image of generic BE99 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Beechcraft 99 Airliner
Operator:Alpine Aviation
Registration: N14MV
MSN: U-59
First flight:
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Aircraft fate: Repaired
Location:Helena Airport, MT (HLN) (   United States of America)
Phase: Taxi (TXI)
Nature:Cargo
Departure airport:Billings-Logan Field, MT (BIL/KBIL), United States of America
Destination airport:Helena Airport, MT (HLN/KHLN), United States of America
Narrative:
A Beech 99, N14MV, collapsed the left main landing gear after turning off the runway at Helena, Montana. The airplane was substantially damaged and both crew members were not injured. The flight had departed from Billings, Montana, at 01:15, as a cargo flight.
It was reported that after departing runway 27, via the high speed taxi way, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded another 52.5 feet before coming to rest on the taxi way. The maintenance inspection and subsequent repairs were to the outboard rear spar, ribs and upper and lower skins on the left wing. Other repairs or replacements were to the left main landing gear assembly, fuselage belly and left flap.

During the post crash inspection of the left main landing gear, it was found that the down lock hook, link, fitting and pin were broken. A metallurgical examination of the broken parts revealed fractures typical of an overstress separation. The failure was most likely a 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.

Probable Cause:

Landing gear locking mechanism overload and improper rigging.

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: NTSB
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 269 days (9 months)
Accident number: SEA94LA218
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Landing gear collapse
Runway mishap

Photos

Add your photo of this accident or aircraft

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Billings-Logan Field, MT to Helena Airport, MT as the crow flies is 277 km (173 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: languages

Share

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org