20200117011239A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 185D · Laytonsville, MD · January 17, 2020

Date: January 17, 2020 · 17:09 local
Place: Laytonsville, MD
Airport: Davis
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1557F
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA20CA091
Reported as: Cessna 185D
Reported engine: Continental I0-470 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,900 total1,500 in this make and model5 in the last 90 days

N1557FRegistered now · Cessna 185DS/N 185-0928 · Built 1965 Airframe modelCessna 185D Engine modelContinental I0-470 seriesReciprocating

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.

In reviewing the video available from the airport operator, about three seconds into the takeoff rollout, the aircraft veered hard to the left. Corrective input from the pilot caused the aircraft to yaw hard to the right, and exit the runway.

In exiting the runway, the aircraft crossed a ditch/trough which caused it to impact the left wing onto the ground and collapse the left landing gear inboard apparently due to the sideloads.

Thereafter, the aircraft exited the runway, crossed a drainage ditch, and came to a stop in the runway clear area immediately adjacent to the runway.

The video shows the aircraft's wings impacting the ground, and landing gear collapsing after it was subjected to a side load.

A visual inspection of the aircraft showed the tail wheel broken off.

Gai weather: 16:56; wind: nw @ 6 mph; visibility: 10.00 miles; conditions: fair; sky conditions: clr; temp: 30°f; dew point: 13°f; humidity 49%; altimeter: 30.69 in.

As the FAA filed it

IN REVIEWING THE VIDEO AVAILABLE FROM THE AIRPORT OPERATOR, ABOUT THREE SECONDS INTO THE TAKEOFF ROLLOUT, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED HARD TO THE LEFT. CORRECTIVE INPUT FROM THE PILOT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW HARD TO THE RIGHT, AND EXIT THE RUNWAY.

IN EXITING THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED A DITCH/TROUGH WHICH CAUSED IT TO IMPACT THE LEFT WING ONTO THE GROUND AND COLLAPSE THE LEFT LANDING GEAR INBOARD APPARENTLY DUE TO THE SIDELOADS.

THEREAFTER, THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY, CROSSED A DRAINAGE DITCH, AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE RUNWAY CLEAR AREA IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY.

THE VIDEO SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT'S WINGS IMPACTING THE GROUND, AND LANDING GEAR COLLAPSING AFTER IT WAS SUBJECTED TO A SIDE LOAD.

A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED THE TAIL WHEEL BROKEN OFF.

GAI WEATHER: 16:56; WIND: NW @ 6 MPH; VISIBILITY: 10.00 MILES; CONDITIONS: FAIR; SKY CONDITIONS: CLR; TEMP: 30°F; DEW POINT: 13°F; HUMIDITY 49%; ALTIMETER: 30.69 IN.

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 ERA20CA091Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLaytonsville, MDThe failure of the tailwheel attachment tube during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and the left main landing gear collapsing.Jan 17, 2020 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N1557F · 1

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

Incident 19780129004469IOps On Grnd From Ldg/Rtrcrft · Hagerstown, MDAircraft struck a pile of snow as it turned off runway. Pilot could not see over nose.Jan 29, 1978 · Minor damage