# NTSB ANC93LA086: Cessna 185, N75LE, Barrow, AK, May 23, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 22, 1993, 22:00 local (May 23, 1993, 06:00 UTC) - Place: Barrow, AK - Coordinates: 71.279655, -156.779678 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=71.2797&lon=-156.7797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2355 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2355/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA086 ## Probable cause THE FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SPRING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run - landing gear,main gear spring - fatigue (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF ROLL AND THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL AND AXLE SEPARATED FROM THE GEAR LEG. THE GEAR LEG STUB STRUCK THE GROUND AND SEPARATED FROM THE GEAR BOX. THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE'S WING WAS DRAGGED ON THE RUNWAY. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PART SHOWED THERE WAS SMALL FATIGUE AREA BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE FRACTURE WAS OVERLOAD. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 1993, at 2205 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N75LE, registered to and operated by the Pilot-in-Command, lost its right main gear and dragged its wing during the take off at Barrow, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing Barrow and the destination was Fairbanks, Alaska. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight was operating on a Special VFR clearance. The Pilot-in-Command, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the Pilot-in-Command, the wind was blowing from 050 degrees at 20 to 22 knots. he was taking off on runway 06. He applied throttle and during the acceleration, the right main wheel and axle separated from the gear leg. The nose struck the ground and the right main gear leg separated from the gear box. The wing then struck the ground. The failed components were analyzed at the NTSB Materials Laboratory Division. The examination disclosed a large discolored region indicative of a large crack existing in the gear for a period of time. Fractographic examination showed a small fatigue crack and most of the region was indicative of high stress propagation. According to the Metallurgist, the large discolored area shows that the fracture arrested itself for a period of time allowing considerable oxide to form on the fracture surface. The examination further showed damage to the corner of the chamfered hole where the fatigue crack initiated. The Metallurgist stated; "The corner appeared to be damage from an external source with the bolt removed, which provided the initiation area for the fatigue. Once again the characteristics of the fatigue appeared to be linked to high stress initiation and propagation and not necessarily to a defect alone such as small localized damage." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75LE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75LE), registered now, S/N 185-0870, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185 - Registry model: [Cessna 185D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185d) (registry code 2072812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-0870 - Airframe hours: 2216 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-F 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Roy, Milton - Registered owner: Milton G. Roy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1992, 70 hours before - Departed: BRW - Destination: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BRW, Barrow, runway 6, 6,500 × 150 ft, macadam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 303 total, 260 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 22 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast - Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BRW ## 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 19930522014809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930522014809A), May 22, 1993: Cessna 185, Barrow, AK, Substantial damage. Right main axle and wheel separated on takeoff. Strut collapsed. Bolt left out began cracking. Overstressing factor ## Other investigations on N75LE (5) 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 ANC13CA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA075), Aug 8, 2013: Cessna 185D (N75LE), North Pole, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The malfunction of the right main wheel brake during taxi due to a faulty O-ring in the right brake pedal master cylinder. - [NTSB ANC89LA111](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA111), Jul 1, 1989: Cessna 185 (N75LE), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. THE CROSSWIND AND GUSTS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. - [NTSB ANC87LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA027), Jan 27, 1987: Cessna 185D (N75LE), North Pole, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC85LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA095), Jun 14, 1985: Cessna 185 (N75LE), Kantishna, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC81DA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DA006), Nov 26, 1980: Cessna 185 (N75LE), Fort Yukon, AK, substantial damage 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.