# NTSB BFO91LA020: Cessna 402, N8138F, Richland, VA, December 26, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1990, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Richland, VA
- Coordinates: 37.089702, -81.799415 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0897&lon=-81.7994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11651
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91LA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11651/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91LA020

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SCISSOR ASSEMBLY.

## 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)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE APPROACH AND LANDING WERE NORMAL. SHORTLY AFTER BRAKE APPLICATION, THE PILOT FELT A STRONG VIBRATION AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP IN A SMALL RIVER. POST- ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SCISSOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN 8 HOURS SINCE ITS MOST RECENT 100 HOUR INSPECTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8138F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8138F-1994-05-23), registration cancelled 1994-05-23, S/N 4020232 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402
- Registry model: [Cessna 402](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402) (registry code 207590K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4020232
- Airframe hours: 7727
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Kci Enterprise Inc
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 30, 1990, 8 hours before
- Departed: CKB, CLARKSBURG, WV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 7A4, Richlands, runway 26, 3,435 × 41 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 7,727 total, 500 in this make and model, 6,801 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 12 °F

## 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 19901226066239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901226066239A), Dec 26, 1990: Cessna 402CESSNA, Richlands, VA, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot stated that the approach and landing were normal. Shortly after brake application, the pilot felt a strong vibration and the airplane veered to…

## Other investigations on N8138F (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 FTW79FPA25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FPA25), Aug 14, 1979: Cessna 402 (N8138F), Dallas, TX, 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.

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