CEN13LA531

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna/Weaver 305 - E · Paris, TX · August 31, 2013

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 30, 2013, 19:30 local (Aug 31, 2013, 00:30 UTC)
Place
Paris, TX
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N862Cessna/Weaver 305 - E
Defining event
Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report April 23, 2014
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration, Dallas FSDO
FAA report
20130830021719A
Case key
87993

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The failure of a landing gear O-ring, which prevented the pilot from being able to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possibleCessna/Weaver 305E: 1 caseAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

After touchdown, the right main landing gear began to oscillate and brake. The pilot applied the left brake to compensate for the right main landing gear braking; the propeller then contacted the runway, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the right main landing gear revealed that the outside O-ring was blown, which prevented the pilot from being able to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.

Factual narrative

On August 30, 2013, at 1930 central daylight time, a Weaver Cessna 305E, N862, nosed-over and impacted the runway during landing at Cox Field Airport (PRX), Paris, Texas. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from PRX. In a written statement provided to the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot stated that the airplane touched down on the main landing gear wheels during a wheel landing on runway 17. The engine power was at idle and after about 4-5 seconds, the right main landing gear started to oscillate causing a braking effect. To compensate, the pilot added left brake. The propeller then contacted the runway surface and the airplane suddenly nosed-over. An airplane logbook entry dated September 25, 2013, stated that inspection of the Cessna L-19 castoring landing gear revealed that the outside O-ring was blown resulting in insufficient fluid pressure. The entry made reference to the Cessna L-19 Maintenance Manual, page 4-53, figure 4-29. A National Transportation Safety Board Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (Form 6120.1) was emailed to the pilot on September 20, 2013, and on November 25, 2013. Form 6120.1 was not received from the pilot.

Aircraft

Registration
N862
Reported as
Cessna/Weaver 305 - E (E)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
WA862
Built
1995
Engine
Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Pilot
Registered owner
Pilot
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Departed
PRX · Paris, TX
Destination
PRX · Paris, TX
Airport
PRX · Cox Field Airport, runway 17, 6,002 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
41
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Flight hours
650 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
150° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
95 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
29.88 inHg
Observed at
PRX

Docket · 5

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 473 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.