# NTSB DEN90LA056: Cessna 404, N409EX, Englewood, CO, February 13, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1990, 17:30 local (Feb 13, 1990, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.579204, -104.859046 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5792&lon=-104.8590&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17891
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17891/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA056

## Probable cause

THE COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,nose gear - undetermined (cause)
- Nose down, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING TAKEOFF GROUND RUN AT 85 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED 2,500 FEET ON RUNWAY 17L, BEFORE COMING TO REST ON THE ASPHALT RUNWAY. A POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE. REPEATED GEAR RETRACTION AND EXTENSION TESTS FAILED TO DUPLICATE THE MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N409EX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N409EX-2004-04-08), registration cancelled 2004-04-08, S/N 404-0436, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 404
- Registry model: [Cessna 404](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-404) (registry code 2075901) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 6-285-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-6-285-a) (registry code 17038, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: C404-00436
- Airframe hours: 6560
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-M 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Casper Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 12, 1990
- Departed: APA
- Destination: RIL, RIFLE, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 17L, 10,000 × 101 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,680 total, 1,932 in this make and model, 2,808 as pilot in command, 195 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19900212001989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900212001989A), Feb 12, 1990: Cessna 404CESSNA, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Nose gear collapsed on takeoff roll. Reason for collapse could not be determined.

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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