# NTSB ANC89FA070: Cessna C-402, N966JW, Tatitlek, AK, May 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 10, 1989, 14:55 local (22:55 UTC)
- Place: Tatitlek, AK
- Coordinates: 60.880794, -146.649734 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8808&lon=-146.6497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 2, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5107
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC89FA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5107/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89FA070

## Probable cause

INSTALLATION OF THE IMPROPER WASHER ON THE SCISSORS ASSEMBLY OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE EXTRA FORCES ENCOUNTEREDON A GRAVEL RUNWAY WERE SUFFICIENT TO PULL THE BUSHING, WASHER, AND BOLT THROUGH THE SCISSORS ASSEMBLY AND ALLOWING THE LOWER HALF TO PIVOT FREELY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear strut scissors - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TOUCHED DOWN ON THE GRAVEL RUNWAY AND BEGAN TO APPLY BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT RELEASED THE BRAKES AND USED ASYMMETRIC POWER AND BRAKING, BUT THE AIRPLANE STILL LEFT THE RUNWAY ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A SMALL WASHER PLACED BENEATH THE BOLT HEAD, WHICH HOLDS THE UPPER AND LOWER SCISSORS ASSEMBLY TOGETHER, HAD PULLED THROUGH ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ALLOWING THE LOWER HALF OF THE MAIN GEAR TO PIVOT FREELY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N966JW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N966JW-2013-09-17), registration cancelled 2013-09-17, S/N 402-0066, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-402
- Registry model: [Cessna 402](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402) (registry code 207590K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4020066
- Airframe hours: 8881
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Wilburs Incorporated, doing business as Wilburs Flight Operations
- Registered owner: Joseph & Anne Wilbur
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 20, 1989, 55 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Destination: AK47, TATITLEK, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AK47, Tatitlek, runway 12, 2,200 × 95 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11,025 total, 80 in this make and model, 7,677 as pilot in command, 229 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 7 knots
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19890510011249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890510011249A), May 10, 1989: Cessna 402CESSNA, Tatitlek, AK, Substantial damage. Left main scissors bushing and bolt separated causing wheel to swivel and loss of control landing.

## Other investigations on N966JW (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW94FA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94FA282), Aug 28, 1994: Cessna 402 (N966JW), Harlingen, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER ON ALL ENGINES DUE TO WORN AND FOULED SPARK PLUGS AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE BY…

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.

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