- Date
- July 19, 2003, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Racine, WI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N355STCessna 195
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA -- Milwaukee FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030719018809A
- Case key
- 57625
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the left main landing gear axle resulting in the brake being locked and subsequent loss of directional control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft was substantially damaged during landing when it departed the runway surface. The pilot reported the left brake locked during landing causing the aircraft to drift to the left of the runway centerline. He stated that as the aircraft returned to the runway centerline the left wheel began to vibrate and the left axle failed. He reported the aircraft veered off the right side of the runway and ground looped 180 degrees before coming to rest. A post-accident examination determined the left axle had failed. The axle showed no evidence of corrosion or pitting. The brake rotor showed no discoloration. Since the brake line was separated between the wheel and the strut, the integrity of the brake system at the time of the accident could not be determined.
Factual narrative
On July 19, 2003, at 1730 central daylight time, a Cessna 195, N355ST, piloted by private pilot, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway surface during landing rollout on runway 14 (4,423 feet x 100 feet, asphalt) at the John H. Batten Airport (RAC), Racine, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed RAC at 1700.
The pilot's written statement reported that upon touchdown the left brake locked, causing the airplane to drift to the left. He stated that "hard right rudder" was applied in an attempt return to the runway centerline. According to the pilot, "as the aircraft was brought to the center of the runway the left wheel began to vibrate." He noted that as he felt the left brake release, the wheel began to "excessively camber and subsequently the left axle failed." As the left axle failed, the aircraft veered off the right side of the runway. According to the pilot, the left landing gear strut subsequently "knifed" into the grass adjacent to the runway and the aircraft ground looped 180 degrees before coming to rest.
A post accident examination determined the left axle had failed causing the left wheel assembly to separate from the strut. The axle showed no evidence of corrosion or pitting. The brake rotor showed no discoloration. Since the brake line was separated between the wheel and the strut, the integrity of the brake system at the time of the accident could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N355ST
- Reported as
- Cessna 195
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7285
- Airframe hours
- 4,113
- Engine
- Jacobs R-755-B2, 275 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 19, 2003 · 11 hours before
- Departed
- RAC · Racine, WI
- Airport
- RAC · John H Batten, runway 14, 4,423 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 250 total · 51 in this make and model · 173 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- RAC
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N355ST · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.