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CHI90LA031

1989-11-20 · PLAINWELL, Michigan, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 61D

Current FAA registration · N8750R

Make / Model
HELIO H-391B
Engine
LYCOMING GO-435C&D SER (260 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19620712
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AC0B51

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

FAILURE OF THE CROSSWIND LANDING GEAR SYSTEM TO ENGAGE ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR DUE TO IMPROPER RIGGING ADJUSTMENT BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS (GUSTS AND QUARTERING CROSSWIND) AND SOFT TERRAIN IN THE DITCH.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TOUCHDOWN, HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IT SWERVED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN IT RAN THROUGH SOFT TERRAIN IN A DITCH. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP ABOUT 200 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. A POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE CROSS-WIND LANDING GEAR LOCK SYSTEM WAS IMPROPERLY RIGGED. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR LOCK PIN FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS FREE TO 'CASTER' DURING TOUCHDOWN AND ON THE LANDING ROLL, WHILE THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR REMAINED LOCKED. THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE PERFORMED A MORE THOROUGH PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION. HE HAD 175 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, WITH 17 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRCRAFT. HE HAD RECEIVED SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION IN THE AIRCRAFT, BECAUSE OF ITS UNCOMMON DESIGN AND CHARACTERISTICS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_CHI90LA031.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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