# NTSB CEN10LA457: Cessna 180B, N5177E, Burnet, TX, August 2, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 2010, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Burnet, TX
- Coordinates: 30.760417, -98.220596 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7604&lon=-98.2206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 15, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76847
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA457
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76847/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76847
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA457

## Probable cause

The failure of the tailwheel compression spring, which resulted in a loss of directional control during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2072606), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072606), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072606), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 180B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072606), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 180B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072606), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was flying to an airport with a maintenance facility to have a tailwheel shimmy repaired. Upon arrival at the destination airport, the pilot performed a three point landing, and, during the landing roll, the rudder pedals began to “shudder violently.” The pilot was unable to control the airplane, and it exited the right side of the runway. During the runway excursion, the left wing hit the ground. Postaccident disassembly of the tailwheel revealed that the tailwheel compression spring had broken. The failure of the compression spring allowed the tailwheel to caster freely making controllability of the airplane on the ground difficult.

## Factual narrative

On August 2, 2010, about 0830 central daylight time, a Cessna 180B airplane, N5177E, was substantially damaged during landing at Burnet Municipal Airport (BMQ), Burnet, Texas. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Llano Municipal Airport (AQO), Llano, Texas about 0700. The pilot reported he was delivering the airplane to BMQ to have the tailwheel examined to troubleshoot tailwheel shimmy. He performed a three point landing and during rollout the rudder pedals began to “shudder violently.” The pilot was unable to control the airplane and it exited the right side of the runway. During the runway excursion the left wing hit the ground, substantially damaging the left aileron. The tailwheel assembly was sent to a repair station by the owner and disassembled. The tailwheel compression spring (part number 3222) was found broken. Failure of the compression spring would allow the tailwheel to caster freely. The broken compression spring was not retained so an examination to determine the cause of the failure could not be performed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5177E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5177E), registered now, S/N 50477, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180B
- Registry model: [Cessna 180B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180b) (registry code 2072606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 50477
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 255 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Morgan Edward A
- Registered owner: Morgan Edward A
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: AQO, Llano, TX
- Destination: BMQ, Burnet, TX
- Airport: BMQ, Burnet Municipal Airport, runway 19, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 11, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 305 total, 158 in this make and model, 178 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: BMQ, 1 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 20100802041449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100802041449A), Aug 2, 2010: Cessna 180B, Burnet, TX, Substantial damage. Upon landing the airplane made a small bounce and then settled in a three point attitude. During roll out the rudder pedals had severe vibration resulting in a…

## Other investigations on N5177E (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 ANC95LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA080), Jun 23, 1995: Cessna 180 (N5177E), Minto, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF IN A TIMELY MANNER. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE AREA (WATERWAY) FOR THE TAKEOFF.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76847. 772 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 643 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367646&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Tailwheel parts (item 2, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370652&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Tailwheel%20parts-Master.PDF

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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