# NTSB DEN90LA071: Cessna 402B, N3128K, Alamogordo, NM, March 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1990, 19:03 local (Mar 7, 1990, 02:03 UTC)
- Place: Alamogordo, NM
- Coordinates: 32.87968, -105.949851 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8797&lon=-105.9499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17901/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA071

## Probable cause

THE COLLAPSE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AS A RESULT OF THE MALFUNCTION OF THE DOWN LOCK ASSEMBLY AND FAILURE OF THE TORQUE TUBE BRACKET ASSEMBLY.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,total (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - unlocked (cause)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR MADE A LOUD NOISE DURING RETRACTION AND THE GEAR 'UNLOCKED' LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT OF THE AIR TAXI CARGO FLIGHT FLEW BY A CONTROL TOWER AT HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE FOR A VISUAL CHECK OF THE LANDING GEAR. TOWER PERSONNEL WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM THE GEAR DID NOT APPEAR TO BE LOCKED DOWN. DURING LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR FOLDED, THE PLANE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND CAME TO REST OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. A POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TORQUE TUBE BRACKET ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED AND RESULTED IN THE GEAR DOWN LOCK ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3128K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3128K-1991-10-25), registration cancelled 1991-10-25, S/N 402B0301 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402B
- Registry model: [Cessna 402B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402b) (registry code 207590P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402B-0301
- Airframe hours: 6380
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: New Mexico Flying Service
- Registered owner: New Mexico Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 11, 1990, 99 hours before
- Departed: CNM, CARLSBAD, NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ALM, Alamogordo, runway 21, 7,005 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,378 total, 194 in this make and model, 6,084 as pilot in command, 164 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 190° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19900306003419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900306003419A), Mar 6, 1990: Cessna 402B, Alamogordo, NM, Substantial damage. Noise as gear retracted on takeoff,right main collapsed landing. Torque tube bracket assembly failed bottomed out.

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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