# NTSB DEN03LA156: Cessna R182, N6078C, Cedar City, UT, September 24, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 2003, 13:44 local (19:44 UTC) - Place: Cedar City, UT - Coordinates: 37.70111, -113.098609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7011&lon=-113.0986&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58021 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58021/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA156 ## Probable cause the nose wheel separating from the airplane during the precautionary landing. Factors contributing to the accident were the missing nose gear axle through-bolt and the missing cotter pin. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - landing gear,nose gear - separation (cause) - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - missing (contributing factor) - miscellaneous,dowel/pin - missing (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot took off and attempted to raise the landing gear. He did not hear the gear motor operate. He noted that the main landing gear were still down, and the nose gear was partially retracted. The pilot reported that he recycled the gear several times eventually leaving it down. The pilot said he had cockpit indications that the gear was safe; however, the pilot asked a crash crew at the airport to look at the gear as he flew over. The pilot reported that the crash crew informed him that all three gear were down. The pilot came in for landing. On touching the nose wheel to the runway, the nose wheel came off. The nose gear strut dug into the runway asphalt and subsequently collapsed. An examination of the airplane's nose gear showed the nose gear axle through bolt had a vacant pinhole for a cotter key at the end of the bolt threads. The end nut for the bolt was missing and not found at the accident site. An examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems showed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2003, at 1344 mountain daylight time, a Cessna R182, N6078C was substantially damaged when its nose gear collapsed during landing at Cedar City Municipal Airport (CDC), Cedar City, Utah. The commercial pilot, a pilot-rated passenger, and a dog on board the airplane were not injured. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight originated at 1300. The pilot reported that when he took off and attempted to raise the landing gear, he noted that he did not hear the gear motor operate. He also noted that his main landing gear were still down, and that his nose gear was partially retracted. The pilot reported that he recycled the gear several times eventually leaving it down. The pilot said he had cockpit indications that the gear was down and locked; however, the pilot asked a crash crew at CDC to look at the gear as he flew over. The pilot reported that the crash crew informed him that all three gear were down. The pilot came in for a landing. On touching the nose wheel to the runway, the nose wheel came off. The nose gear strut dug into the runway asphalt and subsequently collapsed. An examination of the accident site showed gouges in the runway asphalt beginning approximately 30 to 40 feet from the runway threshold. In the vicinity of the first gouge were several nose gear roller bearings and the nose gear axle through bolt. Several succeeding slashes in the asphalt, consistent with propeller strikes, were observed. The airplane's nose wheel was located in brush off the left side of the runway. The airplane's nose gear strut was broken aft at the hinges. The strut fork was scraped and ground aft. The nose gear doors and nose gear hinge stops were scraped and broken aft. The nose gear wheel well bulkheads were bent, buckled, and gouged. Both propeller blades were torsionally bent and showed chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the nose gear axle through-bolt showed a vacant pinhole for a cotter pin at the end of the bolt threads. The threads showed no damage. The bolt showed normal lubricant. The end nut for the bolt was missing and not found at the accident site. An examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems showed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6078C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6078C), registered now, S/N R18200370, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna R182 - Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18200370 - Airframe hours: 6028 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3C50 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roger E. Ley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2003, 10 hours before - Departed: CDC, Cedar City, UT - Airport: CDC, Cedar City Municipal Airport, runway 2, 8,652 × 160 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 10, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total, 174 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: CDC, 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 20030924024349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030924024349A), Sep 24, 2003: Cessna R182, Cedar City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The landing gear would not retract after takeoff and the gear light remained green. Pilot thought the nose gear might be partially retracted and went… 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.