# NTSB CEN12LA218: Cessna 182A, N20DE, New Philadelphia, OH, February 18, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2012, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: New Philadelphia, OH - Coordinates: 40.470001, -81.419723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4700&lon=-81.4197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83268 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA218 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83268/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83268 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA218 ## Probable cause The inadequate maintenance of the wheel attachment bolts, which resulted in the left wheel separating from the landing gear during landing due to ductile overstress fractures. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) - [Misc hardware: fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) - [Maintenance: replacement](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/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: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the landing was normal, but, during the landing roll as the airplane was turning onto the taxiway, the left wheel separated from the landing gear. The left wing sustained substantial damage when it struck the ground. The examination of the airplane revealed that the four bolts that attached the wheel to the landing gear were broken. The metallurgical examination of the four bolts revealed that the fractures were consistent with ductile overstress. The pilot reported that the airplane was converted to a tailwheel airplane per a supplemental type certificate, that it was equipped with tundra tires, and that it was routinely landed on sandbars, strip mines, and fields. The pilot reported that installing new bolts could have prevented the accident from occurring. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2012, at 1115 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182A, N20DE, sustained substantial damage when the left wheel separated from the left main landing gear during landing roll at the Harry Clever Field Airport (PHD), New Philadelphia, Ohio. The left wing sustained substantial damage when it struck the ground. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by E & S Aircraft, Inc., under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed Richard Downing Airport (I40), Coshocton, Ohio, at 1100. The pilot reported that the landing was normal, but during the landing roll as the airplane was turning onto the taxiway, the left wheel separated from the landing gear. The examination of the airplane revealed that the four bolts that attached the wheel to the landing gear were broken. The National Transportation Safety Board's Materials laboratory examined the four fractured bolts. Two bolts were smaller in diameter. The fracture surfaces had a uniform matte-gray rough appearance consistent with ductile overstress fractures under tension loads. The two larger diameter bolts were bent in the shank area. Fracture surfaces on both bolts showed matte-gray features mixed with areas of post fracture damage. All features were consistent with ductile overstress fractures under off-axis loading. The pilot reported that the airplane was converted to a tailwheel airplane per a supplemental type certificate, and that it was equipped with tundra tires. The airplane was routinely landed off runways on sandbars, strip mines, and fields. The pilot reported that installing new bolts could have prevented the accident from occurring. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20DE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20DE), registered now, S/N 51334 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A - 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: 51334 - Airframe hours: 3348 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Don Emslie - Registered owner: E And S Aircraft Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2011 - Departed: I40, Coshocton, OH - Destination: PHD, New Philadelphia, OH - Airport: PHD, Harry Clever Field Airport, runway 14, 3,951 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 4, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 40,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: PHD ## 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 20120218002289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120218002289A), Feb 18, 2012: Cessna 182A, New Philadelphi, OH, Minor damage. A hard landing at Harry Clever Field (phd) on runway 14. Left wheel came off and the left wing hit the ground. ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83268. 10.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 12-071 (with 5 images) (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372067&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2012-071%20(with%205%20images)-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413118&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Wing Damage (item 5, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413111&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Wing%20Damage-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Wing Damage (item 6, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413112&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Wing%20Damage-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Wheel with Fractured Bolt (item 7, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Wheel%20with%20Fractured%20Bolt-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Four Fractured Bolts (item 8, .PDF, 272 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413114&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Four%20Fractured%20Bolts-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.