# NTSB ANC03LA128: Cessna 206, N275F, Fairbanks, AK, September 18, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 2003, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.077224, -147.821395 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.0772&lon=-147.8214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58224 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58224/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA128 ## Probable cause A failure of an attaching bolt that allowed the nose wheel fork to separate from the nose gear strut, which resulted in the collapse of the nose gear during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was rough/uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - from landing - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - failure (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snow covered - Nose gear collapsed, taxi - from landing ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot/aviation mechanic was landing on a remote ridge on a positioning flight to pick up a passenger for an air taxi flight. The gravel covered ridge was about 3,973 feet msl, and was covered by about 1 to 2 inches of snow. After a soft field landing touchdown, the nose gear collapsed during the landing roll, and the propeller struck the ground. The pilot indicated that he believed the bolt attaching the nose wheel fork to the nose gear strut failed, allowing the nose wheel to separate from the lower end of the gear strut. A postaccident inspection of the nose gear and its support structure revealed that the nose wheel strut drag link was torn from its aft attach point. The keel bulkhead at the drag link attach point received tearing and shearing of the rivets and deformation. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 2003, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N275F, sustained substantial damage when the nose wheel collapsed during the taxi from landing on a remote ridge, about 45 miles south-southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Arctic Air Alaska Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot also holds a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, about 0900. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 19, the director of operations for the operator reported that the pilot had landed on a ridge to pick up a passenger. The director of operations said the pilot told him that the ridge was about 3,973 feet msl, and was covered by about 1 to 2 inches of snow over small rocks. After a soft field landing touchdown, the nose gear collapsed during the landing roll, and the propeller struck the ground. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported that during the landing roll, he felt a slight bump, and indicated that he believed "the bolt holding the nose fork to the nose strut broke, causing the nose fork to depart the aircraft." The end of the nose gear strut then dug into the ground, and the nose gear was folded aft. On October 21, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported that a postaccident inspection of the nose gear and its support structure revealed that the nose wheel strut drag link was torn from its aft attach point. The keel bulkhead at the drag link attach point received tearing and shearing of the rivets and deformation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N275F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N275F), registered now, S/N U20605207 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 206 - Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2065207 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F13 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arctic Air Alaska Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAFA, FAIRBANKS, AK - Destination: FAIRBANKS, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 30, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 12,500 total, 650 in this make and model, 12,500 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 15 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030918025539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030918025539A), Sep 18, 2003: Cessna U206G, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] N275F a Cessna 206 had the nose gear collapse while making an off airport landing on a ridge top sse of fai. Pilot stated that… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.