# NTSB CEN12CA185: Cessna 180H, N3424Y, Belle Chase, LA, March 11, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 11, 2012, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Belle Chase, LA - Coordinates: 29.866111, -90.022224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8661&lon=-90.0222&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83106/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83106 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA185 ## Probable cause The bent tailwheel spring that allowed the tailwheel to caster when the airplane encountered a wind gust on landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2072618), [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 180H, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072618), [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 180H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072618), [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 180H, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072618), [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 180H, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis On downwind, the pilot noticed that the wind had increased and that there was light turbulence. He planned to land beyond some trees to avoid turbulence. The airplane encountered a wind gust during the landing roll. The pilot applied rudder and aileron corrections along with heavy braking. The airplane exited the runway and impacted a pipe rack resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a tailwheel spring was bent, and its spring rate was weak, which allowed the tailwheel's fork to caster freely by not engaging into its machined locking detent. ## Factual narrative On downwind the pilot noticed that the wind had picked up and that there was light turbulence. He planned to land beyond trees to avoid turbulence. The airplane went through a gust of wind on roll out. The pilot applied rudder and aileron corrections along with heavy braking. The airplane exited the runway and impacted a pipe rack where the airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a tailwheel spring, part number 3432, was bent and its spring rate was weak, which allowed the tailwheel's fork to caster freely by not engaging into its machined locking detent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3424Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3424Y-2018-02-13), registration cancelled 2018-02-13, S/N 18051896, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051896 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2012 - Departed: PQL, Pascagoula, MS - Destination: 65LA, Belle Chase, LA - Airport: 65LA, Southern Seaplane Airport, runway 02, 3,200 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 31,055 total, 5,323 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 19 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: NGB, 2 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 20120311003689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120311003689A), Mar 11, 2012: Cessna 180H, Belle Chasse, LA, Substantial damage. After landing and taviing down the runway a gust of wind blew the aircraft off the runway causing it to hit a stack of pipes. ## Other investigations on N3424Y (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 ANC81FA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81FA101), Aug 17, 1981: Cessna 180H (N3424Y), Missing Aircraft, destroyed, 4 fatal ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83106. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365483&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous - Communication Summary (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365500&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Communication%20Summary-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. --- 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.