# NTSB ANC10LA101: Cessna 150F, N3569L, North Pole, AK, October 1, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2010, 17:00 local (Oct 1, 2010, 01:00 UTC) - Place: North Pole, AK - Coordinates: 64.750831, -147.383605 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7508&lon=-147.3836&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 21, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77473 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77473/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77473 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA101 ## Probable cause The overstress separation of the left nose wheel steering linkage rod end during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear attach section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, about 50 miles per hour, the airplane swerved left. He stated that the nose wheel dug into the dirt runway during the swerve, and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left nose wheel steering linkage rod end was fractured. Magnified optical examination of the linkage fracture surfaces and surrounding area revealed fracture features and deformation patterns consistent with a bending overstress separation. No indication of preexisting cracking, such as fatigue or corrosion, was noted. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2010, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 150F airplane, N3569L, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during takeoff at the Bradley Sky Ranch Airport, North Pole, Alaska. The airplane was operated as a solo visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under the provisions of Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, when the accident occurred. The student pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that was destined for Fairbanks, Alaska. No flight plan was filed. In a written report to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, about 50 mph, the airplane swerved left. He stated rudder inputs and corrective actions were not effective, and the airplane continued to veer hard left. He noted that during the swerve, the nose wheel dug into the dirt runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. A postaccident inspection of the airplane by an FAA inspector from the Fairbanks, Alaska, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) revealed that the left nose wheel steering linkage rod end was fractured. The linkage was sent to the NTSB’s Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C. for examination. A Senior Safety Board Metallurgist reported that magnified optical examination of the steering linkage fracture surfaces and surrounding area revealed fracture features and deformation patterns consistent with a bending overstress separation. No indication of preexisting cracking such as fatigue or corrosion was noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3569L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3569L-2017-07-06), registration cancelled 2017-07-06, S/N 15062369, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15062369 - Airframe hours: 4057 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Benjerman Saurdiff - Registered owner: Benjerman Saurdiff - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 2010, 37 hours before - Departed: 95Z, North Pole, AK - Destination: 95Z, North Pole, AK - Airport: 95Z, Bradley Sky-Ranch Airport, runway 15, 4,100 × 60 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 21 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.52 inHg ## 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 20100930049489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100930049489A), Sep 30, 2010: Cessna 150F, North Pole, AK, Substantial damage. Student pilot was making soft field takeoff on gravel runway. As aircraft was close to flying speed, nose wheel "wobbled" then went hard left pulling the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 27, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77473. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 561 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Lab Correspondence (item 2, .PDF, 236 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Lab%20Correspondence-Master.PDF - NTSB Record of Memorandum (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 207 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347541&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Memorandum-Master.PDF - Evidence Control Form (item 4, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347545&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-Redacted.PDF 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.