# NTSB DEN02LA107: Cessna 195, N4381V, Longmont, CO, September 7, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 2002, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Longmont, CO
- Coordinates: 40.163612, -105.163055
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1636&lon=-105.1631&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55730
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55730/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA107

## Probable cause

separation of the tail wheel cables, resulting in a loss of directional control.

## 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,steering system - separation (cause)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

As the airplane slowed following landing, the pilot attempted to turn right onto a taxiway using full right rudder. The airplane made a sudden 90 degree left turn, scraping the right wing tip, and came to a halt. Using differential braking, the pilot taxied back to the hangar. The tail wheel cables were found separated.

## Factual narrative

On September 7, 2002, at 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 195, N4381V, registered to and operated by Colorado Aero Services LLC of Boulder, Colorado, was substantially damaged when the airplane ground looped during taxi at Vance Brand Airport (2V2), Longmont, Colorado.  The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured.  Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  The flight originated at Greeley, Colorado, at 1530.

The pilot had flown to the Greeley-Weld County Airport earlier that day. After refueling, he returned to Longmont and landed on runway 29 without incident. He said that as the airplane slowed during rollout, he raised the flaps and unlocked the tail wheel and attempted to turn right on taxiway A2, using full right rudder. The airplane made a sudden 90 degree left turn, scraping the right wing tip, and came to a halt. Using differential braking, the pilot taxied back to his hangar.

On September 12, 2002, an FAA inspector inspected the airplane and found substantial damage to the outboard right wing spars, right wing tip, and horizontal stabilizer.

The pilot said that his insurance company adjuster found the tail wheel cables had separated.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4381V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 195
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7303
- Airframe hours: 4458
- Engines: Jacobs R-755-S 330 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Colorado Aero Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2001, 53 hours before
- Departed: GXY, Greeley, CO
- Destination: 2V2, Longmont, CO
- Airport: 2V2, Vance Brand, runway 29, 4,800 × 75 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 12, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 708 total, 87 in this make and model, 49 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 200 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: BJC, 23 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 20020907024419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020907024419A), Sep 7, 2002: Cessna 195, Longmont, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) After landing, during rollout, pilot indicated that following a well executed landing, and while retracting flaps and unlocking tailwheel, left brake was…

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.

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