20030920023019A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 421B · Driggs, ID · September 20, 2003

Date: September 20, 2003 · 17:30 local
Place: Driggs, ID
Airport: Tetonpeaks/Driggs Municipal/Airport
Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N41053
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA03LA192
Reported as: Cessna 421B
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,000 total138 in this make and model44 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Landed @ Driggs, ID. As aircraft exited runway onto taxi way felt a vibration in nose of the aircraft, aircraft fell nose first onto taxi way. When pilot exited the aircraft noticed debris for approx. 500'. The nose wheel bearing were smoking. The nose wheel, axial and several other pieces were lying on the taxi way. Appears the nose wheel bearing froze up and sheared axial. After the nose wheel and tire assembly separated from the aircraft the nose gear dug into the pavement causing the nose gear to collapse. Both props struck the ground and damaged all 6 blades. Inspector statement attached, who performed on-site investigation.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) LANDED @ DRIGGS, ID. AS AIRCRAFT EXITED RUNWAY ONTO TAXI WAY FELT A VIBRATION IN NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT, AIRCRAFT FELL NOSE FIRST ONTO TAXI WAY. WHEN PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT NOTICED DEBRIS FOR APPROX. 500'. THE NOSE WHEEL BEARING WERE SMOKING. THE NOSE WHEEL, AXIAL AND SEVERAL OTHER PIECES WERE LYING ON THE TAXI WAY. APPEARS THE NOSE WHEEL BEARING FROZE UP AND SHEARED AXIAL. AFTER THE NOSE WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT THE NOSE GEAR DUG INTO THE PAVEMENT CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO COLLAPSE. BOTH PROPS STRUCK THE GROUND AND DAMAGED ALL 6 BLADES. INSPECTOR STATEMENT ATTACHED, WHO PERFORMED ON-SITE INVESTIGATION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA03LA192Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDriggs, IDThe collapse of the nose landing gear while taxiing due to the failure of the nose wheel bearing. A factor was the lack of lubrication.Sep 20, 2003 · Substantial damage