- Date
- November 26, 2006, 17:06 local (23:06 UTC)
- Place
- Moline, IL
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N471BWCessna 421C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report March 26, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration - DuPage FSDO
- FAA report
- 20061126026799A
- Case key
- 65104
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 incorrect installation of the torque link scissor assembly by maintenance personnel, which resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear during landing.
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 right main landing gear collapsed during landing flare/touchdown. The pilot reported that the airplane initially touched down on the left main landing gear, followed by the nose and right main landing gears. The pilot stated that when the right main landing gear touched it "didn't feel right or usual." The pilot reported that he advanced engine power, and the airplane became airborne for about 50 feet. The pilot stated that the airplane "bounced onto runway" and the right propeller impacted the runway. The airplane became airborne again, and then "landed hard" for the final time. Inspection of the right main landing gear showed that the upper and lower torque links had separated at the common pivot-point, which allowed the lower strut to rotate within the upper strut. The two torque links are connected by a bolt, nut, bushing, and several washers. The washer that prevents the bolt head and pressed bushing from pulling through the common pivot-point was not installed. The as-installed stack-up remained together, and was attached to the upper torque link. The pressed bushing from the lower torque link was found with the as-installed stack-up. The torque links for the left main landing gear were found correctly assembled.
Factual narrative
The right main landing gear collapsed during landing flare/touchdown. The pilot reported that the airplane initially touched down on the left main landing gear first, followed by the nose and right main landing gears. The pilot stated that when the right main landing gear touched it "didn't feel right or usual." The pilot reported that he advanced engine power and the airplane became airborne for about 50 feet. The pilot stated that the aircraft "bounced onto runway" and the right propeller impacted the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane became airborne again and then "landed hard" for the final time. Inspection of the right main landing gear showed that the upper and lower torque links had separated at the common pivot-point, which allowed the lower strut to rotate within the upper strut. The two torque links are connected by a bolt, nut, bushing, and several washers. The washer that prevents the bolt head and pressed bushing from pulling through the common pivot-point was not installed. The as installed stack-up remained together and was attached to the upper torque link. The pressed bushing from the lower torque link was found with the as installed stack-up. The torque links for the left main landing gear were found correctly assembled.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N471BW
- Reported as
- Cessna 421C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 421C0640
- Airframe hours
- 4,485.1
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental GTSIO-520-L, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- J & J Air, LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 1, 2006
- Departed
- BJC · Denver, CO
- Destination
- MLI · Moline, IL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MLI · Quad City International, runway 27, 10,002 × 150 ft, concrete
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
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 1, 2005
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 874 total · 217 in this make and model · 682 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.05 inHg
- Observed at
- MLI
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.