Accident Details
On December 6, 2009, about 1215 eastern standard time, a Maule M-5-220C, registration N51620, sustained substantial damage following a collapse of the right main landing gear at LaGrange-Callaway Airport (LGC), LaGrange, Georgia. The certificated private pilot/owner and his passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
According to the pilot, after landing on runway 13, he turned left onto the first taxiway. As he began the turn, "the right landing gear collapsed" and the "right wing tip and propeller struck the ground."
Aircraft Information
FAA records indicated the airplane was manufactured in 1974 and equipped with a Franklin 6A-350 series piston engine. The airplane was first registered to the pilot in 1981. The main landing gear consisted of two upper struts and one lower strut per side. The lower strut of the right main gear was buckled, allowing the gear to collapse and the right wing to contact the ground. No further information regarding the airplane's condition or maintenance history was provided to the NTSB despite multiple requests.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in July 2008. He reported a total flight time of 723 hours, with 479 hours in the accident airplane.
Airport and Weather Information
LaGrange-Callaway Airport was equipped with a single asphalt runway, 13-31, measuring 5,599 feet by 150 feet. Airport elevation was 693 feet above mean sea level. The airport had no control tower. The first taxiway intersecting runway 13 was about 1,500 feet from the threshold, oriented perpendicular to the runway centerline. At 1215, the recorded weather included winds from 130 degrees at 7 knots, 10 miles visibility, temperature 5°C, dew point 2°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.27 inches of mercury.
Post-Accident Findings
Several weeks after the accident, an FAA inspector conducting a ramp check at LGC noticed the damaged airplane tied down in its usual location. The pilot had not reported the damage or the event to the FAA or NTSB. Review of FAA Airworthiness Directives and Maule Service Bulletins revealed no additional mandatory or recommended maintenance or inspection procedures for the M-5 main landing gear.