NTSB Factual Report

On May 22, 2016, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Beech model C24R single-engine airplane, N20135, was substantially damaged while landing at Marine City Airport (76G), near Marine City, Michigan. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that had departed from Kokomo Municipal Airport (OKK), Kokomo, Indiana, about 1400.

The pilot reported that he did not initially observe an indication that the right main landing gear had retracted properly after departing on the accident flight. He stated that before he could recycle the landing gear he felt a "thump" and the landing gear position indictor light turned off (indicating a fully retracted landing gear). Believing the issue had resolved itself, he continued to the planned destination. The pilot reported that while on approach for landing, he selected the landing gear to extend; however, the indicator light for the right main landing gear did not illuminate (indicating an unsafe gear position). He advanced engine power and initiated a go-around. His initial thought was that there was a faulty position switch in the landing gear system. He subsequently established that the right main landing gear was not properly extended when he attempted a landing and observed the right wing drop after the left main landing gear made contact with the runway. He aborted the landing and attempted to cycle the landing gear multiple times while he orbited the airport; however, he never received a safe indication for the right main landing gear. The pilot reported that he then attempted the emergency landing gear extension procedure, but still did not observe a safe landing gear indication. Ultimately, he decided to land the airplane without the right main landing gear extended. He intentionally landed along the right edge of the runway to allow the right wing to drop onto the grass alongside the runway. Upon landing, the right wing contacted the ground and the airplane swerved off the right side of the runway into a marshy grass area. During the landing, the right wing and right stabilizer collided with several runway lights, which resulted in substantial damage. Additionally, the right main fuel tank was ruptured by one the runway edge light posts.

The airplane was initially examined at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The inspector observed the right main landing gear retracted in the wheel well. Further examination established that the right main landing gear tire had jammed itself against the aft wheel well fairing, which prevented the landing gear from extending out of the wheel well. The landing gear fully extended after an aviation mechanic used a crowbar to dislodge the tire from the aft wheel well fairing. The airplane was then recovered to an airport hangar for additional examinations and testing. While on jack stands, the landing gear was cycled multiple times and the right main landing gear tire was observed to interfere with the aft wheel well fairing during both landing gear retraction and extension. The airplane was retained for additional examinations and/or testing.