On June 14, 2003, a Mooney M20C (registration N6806U) was involved in an aviation accident near Boise, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the welds on the nose landing gear retraction truss (left-hand side). This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The aircraft sustained substantial damage after its nose and left main landing gear collapsed while taxiing for takeoff. An FAA inspection revealed failed welds on the nose gear retraction truss.
What happened
While the pilot was taxiing the airplane in preparation for takeoff, the left main landing gear and the nose landing gear both collapsed simultaneously. The aircraft skidded to a stop after the gear failure, eventually coming to rest on its left wing and propeller. This incident resulted in substantial damage to the left wing structure.
The investigation
Following the accident, an FAA Airworthiness Inspector examined the aircraft to determine the mechanical cause of the landing gear failure. The inspection revealed that there was a failure of the welds on the nose landing gear retraction truss located on the left-hand side.
Probable cause
Failure of the welds on the nose landing gear retraction truss (left-hand side).