# NTSB CEN16LA108: Cessna LC41-550FG, N10580, Grand Junction, CO, February 24, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 2016, 18:10 local (Feb 24, 2016, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Grand Junction, CO - Coordinates: 39.122501, -108.526664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1225&lon=-108.5267&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Stabndards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 92762 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92762/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92762 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA108 ## Probable cause Failure of the right main tire for reasons that could not be determined because the tire was not available for examination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna LC41-550FG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md?model=2073320), [All aircraft, 72 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/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: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna LC41-550FG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=2073320), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna LC41-550FG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073320), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing following a postmaintenance test flight, the airplane suddenly veered to the right and struck a taxiway sign. Postaccident photographs revealed that the right main tire blew; however, the investigation was unable to determine why the tire failed because the owner discarded the tire before the investigation was complete. ## Factual narrative On February 23, 2016, about 1810 mountain standard time, the right main tire on a Cessna LC41-550FG, N10580, failed on landing at Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), Grand Junction, Colorado. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Grand Junction Aircraft Sales, Inc., of Grand Junction, Colorado, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a test flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a Visual Flight Rules flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from GJT about 1745. The pilot reported that the landing touchdown was smooth, then the airplane suddenly veered to the right. Opposite braking was applied but to no avail. The airplane struck a taxiway sign at A-3 and collided with a ditch. Post-accident examination revealed the right main tire had blown out. The airplane had just received an annual inspection; no anomalies were noted. Post-accident examination revealed three damage areas to the right wing lower skin. There was a puncture in the skin and access door. The outer face sheet and core was damage. There was also scraping of the lower wing skin. The paint and outer face sheet were damaged. There was a longer scrape with a puncture at the aft end. The paint, outer face sheet and core sustained damage in this area. The damage would affect the structural strength of the one-piece composite wing and would require a major repair. Photos of the tire were sent to the Goodyear Tire Company and the Desser Tire Company for comment. According to Goodyear's Senior Product Support Manager, the tire appeared to be an R3 (retread level = 3). He said Goodyear does not retread tires for Cessna aircraft. A spokesman for Desser Tire Company said "the tire looks beat up, but intact. The area [Desser] works on is on the upper shoulder and tread which, from the picture, looks to be intact." No determination of what caused the tire to fail was made. Since the owner had later discarded the tire, further examination could not be performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10580](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N10580), registered now, S/N 411150 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA LC41-550FG - Registry model: [Cessna LC41-550FG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-lc41-550fg) (registry code 2073323) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-550-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-c) (registry code 17246, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 411150 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 641 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550-C11B 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 2016 - Departed: GJT, Grand Junction, CO - Destination: GJT, Grand Junction, CO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: GJT, Grand Junctiion Regional, runway 11, 10,501 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,672 total, 23 in this make and model, 3,236 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 5, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,120 total, 10 in this make and model, 5,872 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20160223004369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160223004369A), Feb 23, 2016: Cessna LC41-550FG, Grand Junction, CO, Substantial damage. On landing rollout runway 11 the right main landing gear tire blew and the aircraft veered to the right and exited the runway. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92762. 8.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - E-Mail from Goodyear Tire Company (item 2, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444346&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20from%20Goodyear%20Tire%20Company-Master.PDF - E-Mail from Desser Tire Company (item 3, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444347&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20from%20Desser%20Tire%20Company-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 4, .PDF, 8 photos, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444348&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-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.