# Accident 19990905028549A: Cessna 190, Enterprise, AL, September 5, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 5, 1999, 11:00 local time
- Place: Enterprise, AL
- Airport: Enterprise Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.3192° N, 85.8394° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3192&lon=-85.8394&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9872A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9872A-2013-08-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 190 (registry code 2072902, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-190) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental W670 series (registry code 17018, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 190
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 15,500 total, 290 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA124) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990905028549A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1999, AT 1100 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 190, N987CA, LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A NORMAL LANDING AT THE ENTERPRISE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT IN ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED.  VISUAL WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND PILOT/PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED.  THE FLIGHT DEPARTED ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA, AT 1000.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER APPROX. ONE HOUR OF PLEASURE FLYING IN THE LOCAL FLYING AREA, THE TWO PILOTS RETURNED TO ENTERPRISE.  AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE HAD ROLLED SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET, WHEN THE PILOT FELT AN UNUSUAL SENSATION IN THE AIRFRAME.  AT APPROX. THE SAME TIME, THE LEFT SPRING LEAF LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME, AND THE AIRPLANE FELL TO THE GROUND.  THE FIELD EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE FACE DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF A PRE-EXISTING FRACTURE IN THE STEEL MATERIAL.                                                                                                                                                                 (.4)AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR OF PLEASURE FLYING IN THE LOCAL FLYING AREA, THE TWO PILOTS RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT FOR A FULL-STOP LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE HAD ROLLED SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET, WHEN THE PILOT FELT AN UNUSUAL SENSATION IN THE AIRFRAME. AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME, THE LEFT SPRING LEAF LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME, AND THE AIRPLANE FELL TO THE GROUND. THE FIELD EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE FACE DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF A PREEXISTING FRACTURE IN THE STEEL MATERIAL. DURING THE FOLLOW-UP EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE FACE, WITH THE AID OF A BENCH BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE, REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF AT LEAST THREE SMALL FRACTURE AREAS TYPICAL OF FATIGUE CRACKING. THE ORIGIN OF THE FATIGUE CRACKING WAS DAMAGED DURING THE ULTIMATE SEPARATION. THE EXAMINATION ALSO DISCLOSED THAT THE FATIGUE ORIGIN WAS LOCATED IN AN AREA THAT SHOWED FRETTING DAMAGE.

## 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 ATL99LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA124), Sep 5, 1999: Cessna 190 (N9872A), Enterprise, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of the main landing gear spring.

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.

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