# NTSB ATL89IA104: Cessna 177RG, N52800, Savannah, GA, March 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 14, 1989, 12:38 local (17:38 UTC)
- Place: Savannah, GA
- Location: 32.1276° N, 81.2021° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SAVANNAH/HILTON HEAD INTL (SAV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1276&lon=-81.2021&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7929
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89IA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7929/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89IA104

## Probable cause

FATIGUE-INDUCED FRACTURE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ACTUATOR ROD END.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach
  - landing gear,steering system - fatigue (cause)
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - fractured (cause)
- Gear not extended, landing

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE LANDED GEAR-UP AFTER THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO LOWER THE GEAR USING THE NORMAL OR EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEMS. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE MISHAP REVEALED THAT THE MLG ACTUATOR ROD END HAD FRACTURED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE REVEALED PROGRESSIVE FATIGUE CRACKING THROUGH THE THREADED SHANK. IN 1979, CESSNA HAD ISSUED A SERVICE LETTER RECOMMENDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS P/N ROD END WITH A NEW, HIGH-STRENGTH ROD END. COMPLIANCE WITH THE SERVICE LETTER WAS NOT MANDATORY. EXAMINATION OF SDR'S FROM 1983 TO 1989 REVEALED NO HISTORY OF SIMILAR FAILURES INVOLVING THE OLD P/N ROD END.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52800](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52800), registered now, S/N 177RG1273, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 177RG1273
- Airframe hours: 2470
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gertner, Robert
- Registered owner: Ghs Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 1988, 96 hours before
- Departed: FXE, FT LAUDERDALE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SAV, Savannah Int'L, runway 5, 3,000 ×  ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 6,650 total, 120 in this make and model, 6,300 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAV

## 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 19890314061049I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890314061049I), Mar 14, 1989: Cessna 177RG, Savannah, GA, Minor damage. Unable to extend gear for landing. Landed gear up. Main landing gear actuator rod end broke. Service info on part.

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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