# Accident 20010507007849A: Cessna 170B, Fairbanks, AK, May 7, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 7, 2001, 19:56 local time
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Damage: No damage
- Location: 64.8136° N, 147.8597° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8136&lon=-147.8597&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3143A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3143A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170B (registry code 2072306, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C145 series (registry code 17012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170B
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC01LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010507007849A

## Narrative

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

(.19)ON MAY 7, 2001, AT 1956 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL-EQUIPPED CESSNA 170B AIRPLANE, N3143A, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LANDING AT THE FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE STUDENT PILOT/OWNER. THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT/FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, AND THE STUDENT PILOT, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT 1917. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC), ON MAY 9, 2001, THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT HE WAS CONDUCTING WHEEL LANDINGS WITH THE STUDENT ON THE SKI STRIP, RUNWAY 19, AT FAIRBANKS. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN ON THE THIRD OR FOURTH LANDING, THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY SUDDENLY BROKE OFF. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, FAIRBANKS FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FSDO), EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE REPORTED HE FOUND A PREEXISTING CRACK IN THE TAILWHEEL SPRING ASSEMBLY THAT WAS ABOUT 1/16 INCH  DEEP, AND ABOUT 1/2 INCH LONG. HE SAID THE SPRING FAILED AT THE CRACK, AND WHEN THE TAILWHEEL DEPARTED THE AIRPLANE, IT STRUCK THE BOTTOM OF THE RUDDER, AND THE RUDDER TRIM TAB. THE BOTTOM AND AFT PORTION OF THE RUDDER ASSEMBLY WAS TORN OPEN. (-23)PILOT AND CFI DOING WHEEL LANDINGS ON 19 SKISTRIP (FAI) ON ROLLOUT THE TAILWHEEL SPRING BROKE WHERE IT ENTERED THE TAILWHEEL BRACKETT (AT A PREVIOUS CRACK) THE TAIL WHEEL SWUNG UP AND HIT THE RUDDER DOING DAMAGE TO BOTTOM RUDDER SKINS. PILOT DID NIT LOSE CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT AND TAIXED CLEAR OF RUNWAY.

## 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 ANC01LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA055), May 8, 2001: Cessna 170B (N3143A), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the tailwheel spring assembly due to fatigue during touch and go landings. A factor in the accident was an inadequate annual inspection by maintenance personnel.

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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