# NTSB CHI03LA191: Cessna 140, N89360, Ludington, MI, July 2, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2003, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Ludington, MI - Coordinates: 43.962501, -86.407775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9625&lon=-86.4078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57417 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA191 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57417/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA191 ## Probable cause The maintenance personnel's improper installation of the landing gear axle, which resulted in the separation of the axle from the landing gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - landing gear,axle - separation (cause) ## Analysis The airplane's left main gear axle separated from the landing gear during the landing roll. The airplane's left main gear leg dropped into a hole in the pavement, which resulted in the airplane nosing down causing a prop strike. The pilot reported the airplane slid to a stop and rested on the propeller and cowling in a tail up position. The airplane had a brake assembly kit installed. The inspection of the airplane revealed that the bushings and bolts used in the brake assembly kit installation were improper. The mechanic used bushings and smaller diameter bolts. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2003, at 1000 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N89360, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the left main landing gear axle separated from the landing gear during landing on runway 18 (3,502 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Mason County Airport (LDM), Ludington, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Manistee County-Blacker Airport, Manistee, Michigan, at 0930. According to the pilots written statement, during landing roll he felt a strange wobble. The pilot reported the airplanes left main gear axle separated from the landing gear strut. The pilot was able to maintain directional control using the rudder. The pilot stated the main gear leg dropped into hole in the pavement, which resulted in the airplane nosing down causing a prop strike. The pilot reported the airplane slid to a stop and rested on the propeller and cowling in a tail up position. The pilot stated that subsequent to the accident he noticed the top two bolts of the left main gear axle sheered off, which put undo load on the bottom two bolt causing them to break off. The pilot stated that the airplane had a brake assembly kit installed. The pilot reported the mechanic used bushings and smaller diameter bolts to mount the axle to the gear leg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89360](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N89360), registered now, S/N 8392, 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 C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8392 - Airframe hours: 750 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John C Creel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2002, 175 hours before - Departed: MBL, MANISTEE, MI - Destination: LDM, Ludington, MI - Airport: LDM, Manson County Airport, runway 18, 3,502 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 18, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 650 total, 29 in this make and model, 640 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: LDM ## 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 20030702013209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030702013209A), Jul 2, 2003: Cessna 140, Ludington, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Landed runway 18 at Ludington, MI (ldm) left wheel departed aircraft, causing skid, ended on nose. Damage to fuselage. 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.