# NTSB DEN89LA163: Cessna A188B, N4971Q, Fort Benton, MT, June 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 15, 1989, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Fort Benton, MT
- Coordinates: 47.979698, -110.800392 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9797&lon=-110.8004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17740
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17740/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA163

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY ATTACHING BOLTS.

## 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,tailwheel assembly - failure,total (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHILE LANDING, THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY TO THE FUSELAGE. THE TAILWHEEL THEN SWIVELED & THE ACFT GROUNDLOOPED. THE PLT NOTED THAT THE BOLTS HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO HEAVY FORCES DURING OPERATIONS ON ROUGH, DIRT, AG OPERATING AREAS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4971Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4971Q-1990-01-30), registration cancelled 1990-01-30, S/N 18802705T (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A188B
- Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18802705T
- Airframe hours: 1710
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Taylor Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Taylor Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1989, 183 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: NONE
- Airport: Pvt Strip, runway 18, 1,800 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,650 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 2,450 as pilot in command, 270 in the last 90 days, 170 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19890615026469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890615026469A), Jun 15, 1989: Cessna A188B, Fort Benton, MT, Substantial damage. Attach bolts on tail wheel spring broke. Allowed tail wheel to rotate crosswise. Aircraft veered off landing strip.

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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