# Accident 19970809025969A: Cessna A185F, Chickaloon, AK, August 9, 1997 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 9, 1997, 11:00 local time - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing) - Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135) - Operator: TL7C - Location: 61.7392° N, 148.2205° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7392&lon=-148.2205&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5246E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5246E-2007-09-18) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Reported engine: CONT IO520D - People aboard: 3 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 275 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA120) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970809025969A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON AUG. 9, 1997 N5246E, CE-185 PILOTED BY PAULE RODERICK, OWNER OF TALKETNA AIR TAXI INC, EXPERIENCED ALEFT GEAR LEG FAILURE WHILE ON ROLL-OUT AFTER LANDING ON A GRAVEL AREA APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES UP THE CHICKALOON RIVER. THE FAR PART 135 FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE PALMER AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD TWO PASSENGERS ABOARD, WITH 250# OF BAGGAGE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LANDING WAS NORMAL AND THE AIRCRAFT HAD SLOWED TO THIRTY MILES PER HOUR WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANK AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND-LOOPED. THE PILOT OBSERVED THE LEFT WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN OFF AT THE TOP AXEL ATTACH POINT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, LEFT GEAR BOX, PROP AND LOWER COWL. THE CAUSE OF THE GEAR LEG FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE LOWER PIECE OF GEAR LEG WAS RECOVERED AND HAS BEEN SENT TO THE NTSB LAB FOR ANALYSIS. (.4) AS THE TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED AIRPLANE SLOWED TO 25 KNOTS DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON A GRAVEL STRIP, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR LEG SEPARATED AT THE WHEEL ATTACHMENT BOLT HOLES. THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED, AND BOTH WINGTIPS WERE DAMAGED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED MULTIPLE FATIGUE CRACKS ORIGINATING FROMT HE BOLT HOLES. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN USED EXTENSIVELY FOR OFF-AIRPORT LANDINGS. BOTH ON WHEELS AND SKIS. THE FAILED GEAR LEG HAD BEEN INSPECTED FOR CRACKS 806 FLIGHT HOURS AND 16 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC97LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA120), Aug 9, 1997: Cessna 185 (N5246E), Chickaloon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: inadequate maintenance inspection and failure of the left main landing gear attachment due to fatigue. A factor was continuous use of the airplane for rough area, off-airport landings. ## Other reports on N5246E (5) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20030609012299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030609012299A), Jun 9, 2003: Cessna A185F (N5246E), Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was attempting a takeoff down the glacier in "sticky" and "slushy" snow conditions. The aircraft was not accelerating properly, so the pilot… - [Accident 19960804020562A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960804020562A), Aug 4, 1996: Cessna A185F (N5246E), Healy, AK, Substantial damage. Collided wih other aircraft near head on. Both able land. Main rotors hit other aircraft in belly and tail wheel. - [Accident 19960304003549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960304003549A), Mar 4, 1996: Cessna A185F (N5246E), Swentna, AK, Substantial damage. Landed ski equipped plane on rough frozen lake ice. Impacts on ice ridges collapsed the main landing gear struts. - [Accident 19900808031549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900808031549A), Aug 8, 1990: Cessna A185F (N5246E), Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Right main landing gear broke off at attach point on touchdown. Right wing damaged by dragging on ground. - [Incident 19860813060869I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860813060869I), Aug 13, 1986: Cessna A185F (N5246E), Talkeetna, AK, Minor damage. Aircraft settled after water takeoff, pilot aborted. Minor damage when aircraft went ashore. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.