# NTSB CEN09LA183: Cessna 182, N3710D, Kelleys Island, OH, February 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 20, 2009, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Kelleys Island, OH - Coordinates: 41.604721, -82.685279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6047&lon=-82.6853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73413 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73413/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA183 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in gusty winds due to inadequate aileron cable tension. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: aileron control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot executed a normal approach to runway 27 in gusty wind conditions. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left and the airplane veered to the right and the right wing tip struck the runway. While airborne, the pilot increased the engine throttle in an attempt to recover; however, the airplane then veered to the left. Subsequently, the airplane's nose landing gear impacted terrain adjacent to the runway and collapsed. The airplane skidded across the runway and came to rest upright. The pilot reported that the wind was from 290 degrees at 15 to 20 knots, gusting 25 to 30 knots. During an examination of the airplane's flight control system, the aileron cable tension was found to be inadequate. The reason for the inadequate aileron cable tension was not determined. ## Factual narrative On February 20, 2009, approximately 1100 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182A single-engine airplane, N3710D, sustained substantial damage during landing at Kelleys Island Land Field Airport, Kelleys Island, Ohio. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed Port Clinton, Ohio, at 1045. The pilot executed a normal approach to runway 27 (2,270 feet by 35 feet, asphalt) in gusty wind conditions. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left, the airplane veered to the right, and the right wing tip struck the runway. While airborne, the pilot increased the engine throttle in an attempt to recover; however, the airplane then veered to the left. Subsequently, the airplane's nose landing gear impacted terrain adjacent to the runway and collapsed. The airplane skidded across the runway and came to rest upright. The pilot reported the wind was from 290 degrees at 15 to 20 knots, and gusting 25 to 30 knots. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the firewall was buckled, and the aileron control system had "slack" in the cables. The inspector reported that "not much pressure was required to move the ailerons to neutral while holding the control yoke." The inspector stated that the cable slack was not caused by damage during the accident sequence. Examination of the aileron control cables could not determine the reason for the lack of tension in the system. The airplane underwent its most recent annual inspection on October 20, 2008. Between the time of the annual inspection and the accident, no additional maintenance to the aileron control system was noted in the maintenance records. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated approximately 4 hours since the annual inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3710D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3710D), registered now, S/N 34410, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34410 - Airframe hours: 2558 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O470 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paul D Hiller - Registered owner: Paul D Hiller - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 2008 - Departed: PCW, Port Clinton, OH - Destination: 89D, Kelleys Island, OH - Airport: 89D, Kelleys Island Land Field Airp, runway 27, 2,200 × 50 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 31, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 3,144 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 2,181 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 20 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 18 °F - Observed at: PCW, 10 nm away ## 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 20090220012489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090220012489A), Feb 20, 2009: Cessna 182A, Kelleys Island, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported the following; in the landing flare a strong gust of wind picked up the left wing and he was unable to get it back down. He added full… 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.