20210918017099A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 305A · Topeka, KS · September 18, 2021

Date: September 18, 2021 · 15:15 local
Place: Topeka, KS
Airport: Philip Billard Municipal
Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N140R
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN21LA448
Reported as: Cessna 305A
Reported engine: Continental O-470 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,350 total

N140RRegistered now · Cessna 305AS/N 22834 · Built 1951 Airframe modelCessna 305A Engine modelContinental O-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.

Upon landing N140R started a left turn (ground loop) causing it to exit the runway into a drainage ditch coming to rest on the left wing. Substantial damage was caused to the left wing and left main gear strut. A witness noted on take off the tail wheel not locked into place on the take off. Upon inspection of the tailwheel it was found the locking mechanism had failed.

As the FAA filed it

UPON LANDING N140R STARTED A LEFT TURN (GROUND LOOP) CAUSING IT TO EXIT THE RUNWAY INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH COMING TO REST ON THE LEFT WING. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE LEFT WING AND LEFT MAIN GEAR STRUT. A WITNESS NOTED ON TAKE OFF THE TAIL WHEEL NOT LOCKED INTO PLACE ON THE TAKE OFF. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TAILWHEEL IT WAS FOUND THE LOCKING MECHANISM HAD FAILED.

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 CEN21LA448Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTopeka, KSThe loss of control and ground loop due to the mechanical malfunction of the tailwheel lock.Sep 18, 2021 · Substantial damage