# NTSB CHI98LA272: Cessna 140, N76601, Falls City, NE, July 23, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1998, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Falls City, NE - Coordinates: 40.05949, -95.589477 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0595&lon=-95.5895&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43101 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43101/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA272 ## Probable cause the main landing gear leg fracturing and separating from the portion mounted to the fuselage for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear strut - fractured (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, other - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - runway - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During the tailwheel airplane's landing roll, its left landing gear leg fractured and separated where the entrance step bolt hole goes through the leg. The airplane ground looped to the left. During the ground loop event the pilot's seat belt mounting bracket separated and the pilot was ejected through the left door. The seat belt mount was made from aluminum rather than the steel the manufacturer said it should have been made from. Fracture surfaces on the separated gear leg show a grainy surface texture. All 4 edges had shear lips on them. There was a series of small arrowhead shapes originating from the gear's leading edge and progressing aft to a point about midway between the bolt hole and leading edge. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1998, at 0830 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 140, N76601, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when its left main landing gear leg fractured during a landing roll. The airplane ground looped and came to a stop on the clearway between runway 32 (3,999' X 60' dry asphalt) at Brenner Field, Falls City, Nebraska, and its taxiway. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries after being ejected from the cockpit. The flight departed Falls City, Nebraska, at 0750 cdt. The pilot's seat belt mounting bracket fractured during the ground loop event. The left door's top and bottom hinges broke when the pilot was being ejected from the cockpit. The left main landing gear leg had fractured at the pilot step's attachment point. The seat belt mounting bracket was made from aluminum. According to a Cessna Aircraft Company representative, the bracket should be made of 4130 steel, not aluminum. There were no logbook entries showing seat belt bracket maintenance or changes. Examination of the landing gear leg fracture showed its surface had a grainy texture that was grey in color. Shear lips were present on all 4 edges of the leg's fracture surface. About 1/8th of the fracture cross- section had a series of arrowhead shaped marks that began at the leg's leading edge and went aft about halfway between the bolt hole that was drilled through the middle of the leg and the leading edge. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76601](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76601-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N 11041, 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: 11041 - Airframe hours: 3971 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Darrel D. Rennebeck - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 1997, 19 hours before - Departed: FNB - Destination: FNB - Airport: FNB, Brenner Field, runway 32, 4,000 × 60 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 525 total, 247 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FNB, 1 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 19980723017709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980723017709A), Jul 23, 1998: Cessna 140, Falls City, NE, Substantial damage. Acft experienced directional control loss during landing rollout, acft did a ground loop and went off the end of the rwy, the acft sustained substantial… ## Other investigations on N76601 (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 MKC74DCJ47](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74DCJ47), Jun 17, 1974: Cessna 140 (N76601), Papillion, NE, 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.