# NTSB DEN02LA041: Cessna A185E, N4730Q, Greeley, CO, April 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2002, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Greeley, CO - Coordinates: 40.428333, -104.635002 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4283&lon=-104.6350&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54616 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54616/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54616 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA041 ## Probable cause the inadvertent ground loop during landing roll. A contributing factor was the partial brake system failure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - brakes(normal) - activated, dual student - ground loop/swerve - encountered (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - failure,partial (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction said, "Late in landing roll ... at approximately 25-30 mph brakes were applied and left brake failed due to ruptured brake line. Airplane veered right and ground-looped causing left wing tip and left elevator to contact runway." An examination of the airplane's left main landing gear showed that the left brake line was cracked, flattened, and leaking brake fluid. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2002, approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, a Cessna A185E, N4730Q, piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage when the airplane ground-looped during landing at the Greeley/Weld County Airport (GXY), Greeley, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and was not operating on a flight plan. The instructor pilot and airline transport pilot-rated dual student reported no injuries. The local flight originated approximately 1100. The pilot receiving instruction said, "Late in landing roll on runway 9 (6,210 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt) at approximately 25-30 mph brakes were applied and left brake failed due to ruptured brake line. Airplane veered right and ground-looped causing left wing tip and left elevator to contact runway." An examination of the airplane revealed the outer portion of the front main spar, two ribs, and a portion of the rear spar to the airplane's left wing were bent upward and aft. The airplane's left wing tip was broken aft. The top skin of the left wing showed wrinkling. The left aileron was bent slightly upward. The bottom left elevator skin showed scraping. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's engine and engine controls showed no anomalies. An examination of the left main landing gear showed that a portion of the left wheel rim was broken. The left tire showed heavy rubs in the outer wall and tread. The left brake line was cracked, flattened, and leaking brake fluid. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4730Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4730Q), registered now, S/N 185-1184, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185E - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-1184 - Airframe hours: 3823 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D1 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brad and Arden Lindsey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 2002, 20 hours before - Departed: GXY, Greeley, CO - Destination: GXY - Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld County Airport, runway 09, 6,210 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 17, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 19,100 total, 12,000 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 176 in the last 90 days, 97 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 49; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review January 31, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 14 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GXY, 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 20020428010379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020428010379A), Apr 28, 2002: Cessna A185E, Greeley, CO, No damage. (-23) Upon landing the pilot reported that the left brake failed, causing the aircraft to ground loop. The aircraft received substantial damage. Beegles… ## Other investigations on N4730Q (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 CHI06LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA255), Aug 26, 2006: Cessna A185E (N4730Q), Valentine, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, resulting in an inadvertent ground loop by the pilot. A factor contributing to the accident was the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 29, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54616. 328 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432690&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.