# NTSB CHI00LA118: Cessna 170A, N1233D, St. Paul, MN, April 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 2000, 15:26 local (20:26 UTC) - Place: St. Paul, MN - Coordinates: 44.880397, -93.039985 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8804&lon=-93.0400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 12, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49059 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49059/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA118 ## Probable cause the broken landing gear axle. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,axle - fractured (cause) - touchdown - improper, pilot in command - maintenance - improper - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate ## Analysis The student pilot said that he landed hard on the airplane's left side. Upon landing, the left axle broke causing the left wingtip to touch the runway. Examination of the airplane showed the left main landing gear axle was broken at the gear leg mounting flange. The fracture ran around the circumference of the axle, flush against the flange, except for where it ran outside of a 7/16-inch wide spot weld observed on one side of the axle. The left landing gear box was pushed inward and aft. No other anomalies were revealed with the airplane. The airplane underwent an annual inspection on March 9, 2000. The airplane had logged 4 hours since the date of the annual inspection, to the time of the accident. The airplane manufacturer states that cracked landing gear axles should be replaced. The company provides no guidance regarding performing welds on their landing gear axles. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 2000, at 1526 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 170A, N1233D, operated by a solo student pilot, was substantially damaged when the airplane sustained a hard landing on runway 16 (4001 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt) at the South St. Paul Airport, St. Paul, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and was not on a flight plan. The student pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at St. Paul, Minnesota, at 1400 cdt. In his written statement, the student pilot said that upon landing, the left axle broke causing the left wingtip to touch the runway. In his statement to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the student pilot said that he landed hard on the airplane's left side. A FAA inspector examined the airplane at the South St. Paul Airport. The airplane's left main landing gear axle was broken at the gear leg mounting flange. The fracture ran around the circumference of the axle, flush against the flange, except for where it ran outside of a 7/16-inch wide spot weld observed on one side of the axle. The left landing gear box was pushed inward and aft. The airplane's left wing rear spar and left aileron were bent upward and cracked. Examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. The airplane underwent an annual inspection on March 9, 2000. The airplane had logged 4 hours since the date of the annual inspection, to the time of the accident. The Cessna Aircraft Company, Wichita, Kansas, Product Support Division states that cracked landing gear axles should be replaced. The company provides no guidance regarding performing welds on their landing gear axles. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1233D (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20116 - Airframe hours: 2907 - Engines: Continental O-300 145 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lewis H. Scherff - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 2000, 4 hours before - Departed: SGS - Airport: SGS, South St. Paul, runway 16, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 92 total, 48 in this make and model, 34 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MSP, 8 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 20000421004699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000421004699A), Apr 21, 2000: Cessna 170, South St Paul, MN, No damage. (-23) Upon landing a/c settled on left wing. Damage to outboard wing aft spar and aileron spar. Fuselage skin at lt. main gear strut attach lt. main wheel axle… 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.