# NTSB ERA09LA467: Cessna 140A, N9467A, White Plains, NY, August 17, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2009, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: White Plains, NY - Coordinates: 41.066944, -73.707496 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0669&lon=-73.7075&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74547 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA467 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74547/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74547 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA467 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear due to a preexisting crack adjacent to a weld line. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 140A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071604), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the approach was “on speed,” but upon initial touchdown the airplane bounced. The airplane then landed “firm” and immediately veered off the runway surface. Structural damage to the fuselage resulted. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that a section of the right main landing gear structure had failed. Postaccident examination of the fracture surface, which was adjacent to a weld line, revealed evidence of a preexisting crack. There was differential rusting on the crack surface indicative of progressive crack extension. The airplane had recently undergone an annual inspection, however the FAA inspector reported that the fracture surface could not be seen without disassembly of the landing gear. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2009, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140A, N9467A, was substantially damaged during landing at Westchester County Airport (HPN), White Plains, New York. The airplane was operated by a private individual. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated at East Hampton, New York at 1300. The pilot reported that his approach to runway 34 was stable and on speed. As he began to flare, he sensed that he was slightly high, so he added power, leveled the nose, and flared again. The airplane touched down initially, bounced, and touched down again. The pilot described the landing as "firm." The airplane then "veered uncontrollably off to the left side of the runway." After exiting the airplane, the pilot noted that the right, main landing gear was separated from its gear box. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspected the airplane following the accident. He reported that the right side "bulkhead assembly – landing gear failed. Specifically, the structure immediately under the gear that sandwiches the gear in place failed." The inspector reported that the airplane had recently undergone an annual inspection and the section where the part failed would not be visible without disassembly. The failed landing gear component, which was a welded “C” channel structure, was forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for inspection. The part had fractures at opposite ends. The fracture at one end of the structure was typical of shearing and tensile overstress separation. The fracture at the other end was adjacent to a weld line. For the majority of this fracture, the features were consistent with an overstress separation. However, a rusted and discolored region at the center leg of the “C” channel was indicative of a preexisting crack. Fracture face recontact damage and differential rusting of the fracture in this region was suggestive of progressive crack extension. The 1356 weather observation for HPN included the following: few clouds at 6,000 feet, surface winds variable at 4 knots, 8 statute miles visibility, temperature 31 degrees Celsius, dew point 19 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.16 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9467A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9467A), registered now, S/N 15469, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140A - Registry model: [Cessna 140A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140a) (registry code 2071604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15469 - Airframe hours: 2500 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Zaber Eli D - Registered owner: Zaber Eli D - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 2009, 1 hours before - Departed: HTO, East Hampton, NY - Destination: HPN, White Plains, NY - Airport: HPN, Westchester County, runway 34, 6,548 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 200 in this make and model, 4,400 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: HPN ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74547. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 790 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323400&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence with NTSB Materials Laboratory (item 2, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323401&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20NTSB%20Materials%20Laboratory-Master.PDF - Memo of Record - Zabar (item 3, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323930&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20of%20Record%20-%20Zabar-Master.PDF - Service Difficulty Report Generated by FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 469 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323402&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Service%20Difficulty%20Report%20Generated%20by%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Failed Main Landing Gear Part (NTSB Digital Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 485 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323403&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Failed%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20Part%20(NTSB%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Fracture Surface (NTSB Digital Photo) (item 6, .PDF, 479 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323405&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Fracture%20Surface%20(NTSB%20Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF 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.