# NTSB CHI95LA147: Cessna 172M, N9347H, Brooklyn, MI, May 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 6, 1995, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Brooklyn, MI - Coordinates: 42.099033, -84.240623 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0990&lon=-84.2406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9885 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9885/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA147 ## Probable cause FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE FOR LANDING, AND SOFT TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - landing gear,main gear attachment - fatigue (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Nose over, landing ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED ON THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN. WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN A SECOND TIME, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. AFTER THAT, THE WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT SHIFTED, AND THE NOSE WHEEL SEPARATED. THE NOSE WHEEL STRUT THEN DUG INTO THE SOD AIRSTRIP, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ATTACH BOLT HAD FAILED. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF BOTH FATIGUE AND OVERSTRESS SEPARATION. ## Factual narrative On May 6, 1995, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N9347H, nosed over while landing on a private grass airstrip in Brooklyn, Michigan. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was not injured. The local 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated from Jackson, Michigan, at 1515 edt, and was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot stated he was landing to the northwest on the private airstrip when the accident occurred. He described the airstrip as being in "good to excellent" condition and that it had group of trees along the north side of the airstrip beginning approximately 450 feet past the approach end. The pilot stated he touched down at the beginning of this group of trees. He stated the airplane bounced, he added power, and the airplane touched down again approximately 250 feet further down the runway. Shortly after the second touchdown, the left main gear collapsed. According to the pilot, the weight of the airplane on the nose strut caused the nose wheel to break off. The nose gear strut then dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over. The left main landing gear attach bolt was removed from the airplane and sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C. The metallurgists report concluded the fractured surface showed areas of both fatigue and overstress separations. See attached metallurgists report for details. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9347H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9347H), registered now, S/N 17266105, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17266105 - Airframe hours: 2232 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Albert Telgen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 7, 1994, 109 hours before - Departed: JXN, JACKSON, MI - Airport: PVT, Doug Rampy Airstrip, runway 30, 1,600 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,355 total, 147 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950506011409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950506011409A), May 6, 1995: Cessna 172M, Brooklyn, MI, Substantial damage. Bounced came back down. Left main separated. Side load folded nose gear. Nosed over. Gear attach bolt failed. (-23) landing to the northwest on a Private 1600'… ## Other investigations on N9347H (1) 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. - [NTSB ATL85LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA069), Dec 27, 1984: Cessna 172H (N9347H), Fairburn, GA, substantial damage 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.