# NTSB CEN17LA235: Cessna 182A, N6196B, Buffalo, OK, June 17, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 17, 2017, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place: Buffalo, OK
- Coordinates: 36.847499, -99.457496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8475&lon=-99.4575&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Aministration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95395
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA235
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95395/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95395
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA235

## Probable cause

The separation of the nose wheel axle bolt and the nose wheel during the landing roll for reasons that could not be determined because the bolt was not recovered.

## Findings

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

- [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear strut/axle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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: 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)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot stated that the airplane touched down about halfway down the turf runway and that the landing was normal until the nosewheel touched down, when he heard a loud noise from the nose landing gear area. The airplane nosed over on the runway and came to rest inverted. Markings in the turf showed 3 tire tracks consistent with all three landing gear. The center tire mark transitioned into two parallel tracks consistent with the nose gear fork dragging through the grass. About 20 ft later, there was a single track in the runway with about six perpendicular propeller slash marks through the track, consistent with the nose gear strut collapsing and the rotating propeller striking the ground as the airplane continued forward. The nose wheel axle tube was found near the end of the slash marks. The single track continued to the main wreckage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nose wheel had separated from the nose gear fork, and the fork separated from the strut. A grease seal ring from the nose wheel assembly and a portion of the nose wheel axle tube were found in the debris path. The nose wheel axle bolt was not recovered. The available evidence is consistent with the nose wheel axle bolt separating from the wheel, which resulted in separation of the nosewheel. The nose wheel axle bolt was not found during the investigation; therefore, the reason for its separation could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On June 17, 2017, about 0945 central daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N6196B, nosed over after landing on turf runway 17 at Mike's Place Airport (96OK), Buffalo, Oklahoma. The two pilots and one passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to 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 at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Alva Regional Airport (AVK), Alva, Oklahoma, about 0915 and was destined for 96OK. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down about midfield and the landing was normal until the nose wheel touched down. He heard a loud noise from the nose landing gear area. The airplane nosed over on the runway and came to rest inverted (figure 1). Figure 1 – Accident site The landing path consisted of three parallel tire marks on the grass runway. A grease seal ring from the nose wheel assembly was found next to the center tire mark. The center tire mark transitioned into two parallel tracks in the grass; the tracks were about 1 ft wide and extended for about 8 ft in a straight line. About 20 ft later, there was a single track in the runway with about 6 perpendicular slash marks through the track. The nose wheel axle tube was found near the end of the slash marks. The single track continued to the main wreckage. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the vertical stabilizer. The nose wheel was separated from the nose gear fork and the fork separated from the strut. A grease seal ring from the nose wheel assembly and a portion of the nose wheel axle tube were found in the debris path. The nose wheel axle bolt (figure 2) had separated and was not found. There were no preaccident anomalies noted with the recovered components. Figure 2 – Nose landing gear depiction A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that during the most recent annual inspection on April 8, 2017, the wheel bearings were packed. No other recent maintenance had been completed on the landing gear system.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6196B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6196B-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N 34196, built 1957 (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: 34196
- Year built: 1957
- Airframe hours: 6827.3
- Engines: Continental Motors O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 8, 2017, 17.7 hours before
- Departed: AVK, ALVA, OK
- Destination: 96OK, Buffalo, OK
- Airport: 96OK, Mike'S Place, runway 17, 4,000 × 35 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Co-pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2016; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 642 total, 170 in this make and model, 620 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 6, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 319 total, 12 in this make and model, 167 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observed at: KWWR, 25 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 20170617008439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170617008439A), Jun 17, 2017: Cessna 182A, Buffalo, OK, Substantial damage. N6196B, single engine, C182, fixed tricycle gear aircraft, nose gear failed on landing rollout. The pilot stated he was flying from the left seat and had…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95395. 5.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Correspondence - Owner Email (item 2, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20Owner%20Email-Master.PDF
- Correspondence - FAA Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20FAA%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- Maintenance Records (item 4, .PDF, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF
- Systems - Nose Gear Service Manual Excerpts (item 5, .PDF, 901 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Systems%20-%20Nose%20Gear%20Service%20Manual%20Excerpts-Master.PDF
- Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 6, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF
- Photos (item 7, .PDF, 8 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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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