# Incident 20011223035949I: Cessna 172RG, Denver, CO, December 23, 2001

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 23, 2001, 12:11 local time
- Place: Denver, CO
- Airport: Centennial Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5701° N, 104.8493° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CENTENNIAL (APA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5701&lon=-104.8493&mi=10
- Aircraft: N550AM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N550AM-2022-02-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172RG (registry code 2072438, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 806 total, 800 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011223035949I

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE CONNECTING BOLT TO THE NOSE TORQUE LINK LOST THE BOLT. THE NUT CAME LOOSE CAUSING FAILURE OF THE GEAR TO RETRACT. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT A COTTER KEY WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE NUT/BOLT FASTENER. SINCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS A NEW ACQUISITION AND OVER 50 HOURS OUT OF ANNUAL INSPECTION, AND HAD ACCOMPLISHED SEVERAL TAKE-OFFS AND LANDINGS IT COULD NOT BE PROVEN WHEN, WHERE OR IF THE COTTER KEY WAS EITHER NOT INSTALLED OR REMOVED. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO WARRANT AN EIR. THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY WAS COUNSELED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF VISUAL PREFLIGHT ON AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO RETURN TO SERVICE.

## Other reports on N550AM (4)

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

- [Incident 20070916022029I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070916022029I), Sep 16, 2007: Cessna 172RG (N550AM), Denver, CO, Minor damage. (-23) Instructor was conducting flight training with his student pursuant to a commercial pilot certificate in a complex airplane. Student had performed 10…
- [Incident 20070305003379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070305003379I), Mar 5, 2007: Cessna 172RG (N550AM), Denver, CO, Minor damage. (-23) Approximately 1 hour into the local area training flight the crew attempted to lower the gear for a landing. The nose and right main gear extended, but…
- [Incident 19970604022239I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970604022239I), Jun 4, 1997: Cessna 172RG (N550AM), Chandler, AZ. Fumes on climbout. Returned. Hydraulic pressure pump failed.
- [Incident 19871111074919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871111074919I), Nov 11, 1987: Cessna 172RG (N550AM), Maricopa, AZ, Minor damage. Practice emergency gear extension. Gear collapse at landing on dirt strip with safe indication. No system problems.

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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