# NTSB ANC15LA023: Cessna 185, N4554F, Nome, AK, April 23, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 23, 2015, 12:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Nome, AK - Coordinates: 64.51139, -165.390274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.5114&lon=-165.3903&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 February 13, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91096 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91096/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91096 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA023 ## Probable cause The failure of the left main landing gear leg for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/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 A185E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072818), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight in the wheel/ski-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that, just as the airplane became airborne, he heard a "loud bang" and that he then noticed that the left wheel/ski assembly had rotated up and near the left window. The pilot then chose to return to the departure runway for an emergency landing, and he crabbed the airplane into the wind to hold the wheel/ski assembly close to the airplane during the return flight back to the airport. During touchdown, as the airplane settled onto the runway, the left main landing gear leg contacted the ground and collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear leg assembly fractured near the axle through bolts. The fractured gear leg and maintenance records were not made available for examination; therefore, the reason for the failure of the left main landing gear leg could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On April 23, 2015, about 1240 Alaska daylight time, a wheel/ski equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N4554F, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing, shortly after takeoff from the Nome City Field, Nome, Alaska. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the certificated commercial pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight destined to White Mountain, Alaska. During a telephone interview the pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that after a normal takeoff roll, just as the airplane became airborne, he heard a "loud bang," and then he noticed that the left side wheel/ski assembly had rotated up and near the left side window. The pilot then elected to return to the departure runway for an emergency landing, and he crabbed the airplane into the wind as to hold the wheel/ski assembly close to the airplane during the return flight back to the airport. During touchdown, as airplane settled to the runway and the left main landing gear leg contacted the ground, the left main landing gear leg collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground, sustaining substantial damage. A postaccident inspection of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the left main landing gear leg assembly fractured near the axel through bolts, which caused the ski to rotate up near the window during takeoff. The fractured gear leg and maintenance records were not made available to the NTSB for examination. The aircraft had been modified via Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), SA1907NM, for the instillation of Schnider Model SWS-4000 C-19 wheel skies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4554F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4554F), registered now, S/N 185-1057 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-1057 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 4400 - Engines: Continental IO520D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2014 - Departed: 94Z, Nome, AK - Destination: WMO, WHITE MOUNTAIN, AK - Airport: 94Z, Nome City Field, runway 03, 1,950 × 110 ft, snow - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 25,500 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 25,500 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 17 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: 94Z, 1 nm away ## 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 20150423007069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150423007069A), Apr 23, 2015: Cessna A185E, Nome, AK, Substantial damage. On takeoff rotation pilot heard loud pop. Could see the gear and ski by his window. Requested emergency landing. Upon touchdown damaged left wing, landing gear… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91096. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 975 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447575&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447576&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.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.