# NTSB CEN17LA351: Cessna 340, N5870M, McKinney, TX, September 9, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 9, 2017, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: McKinney, TX - Coordinates: 33.176387, -96.589164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1764&lon=-96.5892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Textron Aviation, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96013 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA351 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96013/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96013 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA351 ## Probable cause The failure of the bell crank pivot bolt which resulted in the left main landing gear collapse. Contributing to the accident was the lack of landing gear inspections in accordance with the airplane manufacturer's maintenance manuals. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Maintenance/inspections: scheduled maint checks](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010520): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Not inspected; cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010520/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010520/cases.md) - [Maintenance/inspections: time limits](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010510): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Not inspected; cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010510/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis After a cross-country flight and during the landing roll at the destination airport, the airplane's left main landing gear collapsed, causing substantial damage to the aileron. An examination of the landing gear found the bell crank pivot bolt and gear down-lock broken. A review of the airplane's maintenance manual revealed that the landing gear system is to be disassembled/inspected every 10 years/5,000 landings, after an initial inspection after 20 years or 10,000 landings. Additionally, the maintenance manual indicates that the main landing gear bell crank pivot bolt is to be inspected for wear every 3 years (or 500 landings), after an initial inspection at 3 years or 1,000 landings. A review of the airplane maintenance records did not reveal an entry were the landing gear inspections had been accomplished. The records revealed the airframe had accumulated 5,799.3 hours at the time of the last annual inspection, that was dated September 1, 2016. It's likely that the landing gear pivot bolt developed a crack over time, which then failed during landing, causing the gear to collapse. ## Factual narrative On September 9, 2017, about 1500 central daylight time, a twin-engine Cessna 340 airplane, N5870M, experienced a gear collapse after landing at the McKinney National Airport (KTKI), McKinney, Texas. The commercial rated pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Holubar Properties, Inc., McKinney, Texas, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane landed on runway 36, and during the rollout, the left main landing gear collapsed. An examination of the airplane noted revealed substantial damage to the airplane's aileron, and the left gear down-lock and bell crank pivot bolt were broken. A review of the Cessna 340 maintenance manual revealed that the landing gear system is to be disassembled/inspected after 20 years (or 10,000 landings) and every 10 years/5,000 landings after the initial inspection. Additionally, the maintenance manual indicates that the main landing gear bell crank pivot bolt to be inspected for wear, every 3 years (or 500 landings) after an initial inspection at 3 years or 1,000 landings. A review of the airplane maintenance records did not reveal an entry were the landing gear inspections had been accomplished. The records revealed the airframe had accumulated 5,799.3 hours at the time of the last annual inspection, that was dated September 1, 2016. The pilot did not return a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident form (NTSB 6120.1). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5870M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5870M), registered now, S/N 3400058, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 340 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (registry code 2076404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [TCM Cont TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/tcm-cont-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17060, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3400058 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 5799.3 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO 520SER 285 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO 520SER 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Holubar Properties Inc - Registered owner: Holubar Properties Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2016 - Departed: KPSN, Palestine, TX - Destination: KTKI, McKinney, TX - Airport: KTKI, McKinney National, runway 36, 7,002 × 150 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KTKI ## 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 20170909021309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170909021309A), Sep 9, 2017: Cessna C340, Mckinney, TX, Substantial damage. On September 9, 2017 at 1500 CDT, a Cessna 340, N5870M, s/n 340-0058, [privacy data omitted] had an accident while landing at Mckinney airport (tki). [privacy… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96013. 12.4 MB in all. - Memo (item 1, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459844&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-Master.PDF - Gear Inspection Requirements (item 2, .PDF, 12.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459845&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Gear%20Inspection%20Requirements-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459846&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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.