# Accident 19991215044409A: Cessna 140, Helena, MT, December 15, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 15, 1999, 15:30 local time
- Place: Helena, MT
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.5293° N, 112.2100° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5293&lon=-112.2100&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2739N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2739N-2018-01-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 140 (registry code 2071602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA00LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991215044409A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON DECEMBER 15, 1999, AT APPROX. 1530 MST, A CESSNA 140, N2739N SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ROLL AT THE SILVER CITY AIRSTRIP, ABOUT 18 MILES NORTHWEST OF HELENA, MONTANA. THE PILOT STATED THAT ON HIS SECOND TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT WHEEL SEPARATED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL AND GEAR EXTENSION HAD SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN LANDING GEAR LEG AND WERE FOUND OFF THE RUNWAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SURFACE TRACKS INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN TRACKING ALONG THE CENTERLINE OF THE RUNWAY AND THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD CONTINUED TO TRACK DOWN THE CENTERLINE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 30 YARDS BEFORE NOSING OVER. THE PILOT'S MEDICAL WAS NOT CURRENT. SEPARATED WHEEL EXTENSION BOLTS WERE FOUND INTACT (NOT BROKEN) WITH THE APPEARANCE OF NUT THREADS AND NYLON LOCKING DEVICES STILL ON BOLT THREADS. NO NUTS WERE FOUND. ALL FOUR BOLTS FORWARDED TO THE NTSB FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

## 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 SEA00LA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA032), Dec 15, 1999: Cessna 140 (N2739N), Helena, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Separation of the left main landing gear. Factors include inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot, and inadequate inspection at the time of annual inspection by maintenance personnel.

## Other reports on N2739N (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19800104012039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800104012039I), Jan 4, 1980: Cessna 140 (N2739N), Temple, OK. On takeoff from farm strip, aircraft hit soft spot with left main gear. Aircraftveered & gear dug in and snapped.

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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