NTSB Factual Report

On June 17, 2014, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Maule M4-220C, N535TJ, was substantially damaged during landing at a private grass strip near Cherryville, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The flight originated at Shelby-Cleveland County Regional Airport (EHO), Shelby, North Carolina, around 1200.

According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to refuel the airplane at EHO and then return to the private grass strip. The pilot indicated that during touchdown on the grass strip the main landing gear collapsed. He also stated that the landing "seemed no harder" than any other landing. The airplane came to rest in taller grass at the edge of the grass strip and the occupants egressed without incident.

The pilot reported that the most recent annual inspection was performed on February 14, 2014, and at that time the airplane had accumulated 2157 total flight hours.

The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multiengine land, and a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine land, single-engine sea, and gliders. In addition, he held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first-class medical certificate was issued on March 3, 2014. The pilot reported approximately 23,000 total hours of flight experience, of which 65 of those hours were in the accident airplane make and model.

According to a FAA inspector, the fuselage sustained substantial damage near the main landing gear attach points. A postaccident examination of the damaged main landing gear assembly was performed by removing the landing gear fairings. The landing gear strut consisted of an "A" frame assembly and an oleo strut that extended from the fuselage to the gear hub. Both tubes of the "A" frame assembly on each main landing gear exhibited buckling about mid length and both of the main landing gear struts were bent in the positive direction. There was no corrosion noted on the mounting hardware, landing gear attach mounts, or main landing gear assembly of the airplane. No other anomalies were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent main landing gear collapse.