MOONEY M20J

Full Narrative

**This report was modified on May 20, 2010**

The private pilot stated that following an uneventful approach to land, the airplane's landing gear collapsed after touchdown. The pilot reported that he heard the main landing gear tires "squeak" onto the runway, after which he lowered the nose and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to a stop. The pilot exited the airplane and put out a fire that had started. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained minor damage. An examination of the airplane showed the propeller tips curled, and scrapes on the inboard edges of the flaps. Longitudinally-running scrapes were also observed on the main and nose landing gear doors and the Fiberglas belly pan. The on-scene examination showed that the landing gear extension handle was in the up (retracted) position. The flap extension handle was also in the up (retracted) position. An examination of the runway showed a series of single metal scrapes, followed by a long single scrape, proceeding down the left side of the runway and ending at the runway’s left edge. During follow on testing, the landing gear was successfully extended and no mechanical anomalies were found with the airplane. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the landing gear prior to the accident. In his written statement, the pilot reported that prior to leaving the airplane, he went back inside, raised the flaps and placed the landing gear handle in the retracted position, and then turned off the power.