# NTSB CEN21LA233: Cessna 140, N76933, Edinburg, TX, October 30, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 30, 2020, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Edinburg, TX - Coordinates: 26.441667, -98.122222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4417&lon=-98.1222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103139 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103139/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103139 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA233 ## Probable cause The collapse of the airplane’s left main landing gear for a reason that could not be determined based upon the available evidence. ## 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 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had performed three uneventful takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel airplane. During the fourth landing he used a wheel landing technique, and touched down about 45-50 mph. He stated that the touchdown was normal, but the airplane suddenly veered right and did not respond to corrective rudder or brake inputs. The airplane exited the runway and the left main landing gear detached; the left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. After the accident, a mechanic examined the airplane and found no preimpact mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot reported that the landing gear was not fractured and that the retaining bolt was not found. Attempts to contact the mechanic to discuss whether the bolt was available for examination were unsuccessful and, therefore, the bolt could not be evaluated. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 2020, about 1415 central daylight time, a Cessna 140 airplane, N76933, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at South Texas International Airport, Edinburg, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the flight he had performed three uneventful takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel airplane. On the fourth landing, he touched down about 45-50 mph and used a wheel landing technique. The airplane suddenly veered to the right and did not respond to rudder or brake input. The airplane left the paved surface of the runway and traveled into the soft grass covered dirt, at which time the left main landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane incurred substantial damage to the left wing. The separated landing gear leg was not broken, and the pilot reported that the attachment bolt was not found near the airplane wreckage or on the runway. A mechanic examined the airplane after the accident and found no preimpact mechanical deficiencies but did not elaborate about the retaining bolt. Attempts to contact the mechanic to discuss the retaining bolt were unsuccessful and therefore it could not be evaluated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76933](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N76933), registered now, S/N 11375, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11375 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 4757 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 12, 2020 - Airport: EBG, South Texas Intl At Edinburg, runway 14/32, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 850 total, 27 in this make and model, 750 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2.5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 9 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 85 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: EBG ## 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 20201030021669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201030021669A), Oct 30, 2020: Cessna 140, Edinburg, TX, Substantial damage. N76933 a Cessna 140 lost control during landing at Edinburg Airport (ebg). The pilot and sole human occupant of the aircraft was not injured. Pilot stated his… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103139. 8.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 7.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12530599&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12531071&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13801568&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photo%20array%20template-Rel.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.