# NTSB ANC98IA096: Cessna 185, N3347L, Homer, AK, July 5, 1998 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 1998, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Homer, AK - Coordinates: 59.399902, -151.320266 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3999&lon=-151.3203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 43059 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98IA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43059/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98IA096 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear leg due to corrosion pitting and fatigue. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, taxi - from landing - landing gear,main gear - corroded (cause) - landing gear,main gear - fatigue (cause) ## Analysis The certificated commercial pilot was landing on runway 21, a paved runway, in a tailwheel equipped airplane. The pilot stated that after rollout she made a left turn to exit the runway, and the right main landing gear leg separated at the wheel attachment bolt holes. The right wing struck the ground and sustained minor damage. Metallurgical examination of the failed gear leg revealed multiple fatigue cracks originating from various corrosion pits located within the bolt holes. The operator noted that the airplane had been involved in a previous ground loop accident, and that the airplane had been used extensively for off airport landings utilizing wheel/skis. The failed gear leg had been inspected using a dye-penetrant process about 300 flight hours prior to the gear leg failure. Presently, there are no Cessna or FAA specified inspection intervals for this component. Landing gear legs are replaced 'on condition.' ## Factual narrative On July 5, 1998, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N3347L, sustained minor damage while taxiing at the Homer Airport, Homer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the incident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot, and the two passengers aboard were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Seldovia Airport, Seldovia, Alaska, about 1345. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 5, the pilot reported that she had just landed on runway 21. She stated that after rollout she made a left turn to exit the runway, and the right main landing gear leg broke. The right wing struck the ground and sustained minor damage. A metallurgical inspection of the lower portion of the broken gear leg was conducted at the NTSB laboratory, and revealed fatigue crack origin sites within the upper attaching bolt hole walls. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination revealed fatigue cracks initiating from multiple corrosion pits located within the bolt hole walls. Hardness tests performed on the numbered face of the landing gear leg ranged from 42.3 to 51.2 HRC, with an average of 47 HRC. The specified HRC range is 48.3 to 50.0 HRC. The operator reported that on August 29, 1992, the incident airplane had been involved in a ground loop accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and was rebuilt over the next 6 years. The operator noted that while the airplane was undergoing repairs, both gear legs were removed and dye-penetrant inspections were performed. No anomalies were detected, and the gear legs were reinstalled, and placed back in service. She said that the broken gear leg had accumulated about 300 hours in service since the 1992 accident, and subsequent dye-penetrant inspection. She added that prior to the 1992 ground loop accident, the airplane had been involved in extensive wheel/ski operations. At the present time, Cessna maintenance procedures do not have required inspections intervals or life limits on landing gear legs. Cessna 185 landing gear legs are considered "on condition" items. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3347L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3347L), registered now, S/N 185-1275, built 1967 (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: 1851275 - Airframe hours: 8354 - Engines: Continental IO-540-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Smokey Bay Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 30, 1998, 20 hours before - Departed: SOV, SELDOVIA, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: HOM, Homer, runway 21, 6,700 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,776 total, 380 in this make and model, 127 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - 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). - [Incident 19980705025629I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980705025629I), Jul 5, 1998: Cessna A185F, Homer, AK, Minor damage. Right main gear broke turning off runway after landing. Gear ssent for analysis. (-5)on July 5, 1998, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna… ## Other investigations on N3347L (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 ANC92LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA151), Aug 30, 1992: Cessna 185E (N3347L), Yakutat, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. 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.