# NTSB ERA10LA177: Cessna T337G, N74E, Shelby, NC, March 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 15, 2010, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Shelby, NC - Coordinates: 35.255832, -81.600555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2558&lon=-81.6006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75512 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75512/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75512 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA177 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare and touchdown during landing in gusty crosswind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T337G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2075726), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis While on approach to land in gusty crosswind conditions, the pilot touched down hard that separated the right main landing gear near its attach point to the fuselage. Examination of the separated components revealed that the landing gear had separated as a result of overstress. ## Factual narrative On March 15, 2010, at 1340 eastern daylight time, a Cessna T337G, N74E, received substantial damage when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing on runway 23 at the Shelby-Cleveland County Regional Airport (EHO), Shelby, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was registered to Delta Whiskey Bravo, Inc, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from EHO about 1310 the same day. According to the pilot, everything was normal on the approach except for a strong crosswind. After touchdown, the airplane became uncontrollable and veered off the runway into the grass. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane had damage to the right main gear, right and left wings, and the rear engine propeller. Three pieces of the right main landing gear lower end were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, DC, for further examination. Examination of the pieces revealed that the upper fracture was completely obliterated by abrasion consistent with hard surface runway contact. The lower fracture was partially obscured by asphalt-like material and mechanical damage. The smaller chip-like piece was relatively undamaged. The lower fracture was cut from the remainder and examined with a scanning electron microscope. A mixed fracture topography of dimple rupture and cleavage consistent with overstress separation was observed. See the Materials Laboratory Factual Report in the public docket for additional details. A review of recorded weather data from the EHO automated weather observation station, elevation 845 feet, revealed at 1340, conditions included winds from 340 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 18 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 15 degrees Celsius, dew point 4 degrees Celsius, and altimeter 29.79 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N74E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N74E-2012-06-05), registration cancelled 2012-06-05, S/N P3370125, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T337G - Registry model: [Cessna T337G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t337g) (registry code 2075726) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P3370125 - Airframe hours: 2583 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360C 210 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR IO-360 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Delta Whiskey Bravo Inc - Registered owner: Delta Whiskey Bravo Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2010, 5 hours before - Departed: EHO, Shelby, NC - Destination: EHO, Shelby, NC - Airport: EHO, Shelby-Cleveland Airport, runway 23, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 5, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,312 total, 394 in this make and model, 1,236 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 14 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: EHO ## 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 20100315029329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100315029329A), Mar 15, 2010: Cessna T337G, Shelby, NC, Substantial damage. PIC stated he was returning from the first flight after an annual inspection, landing rwy 23. Approach speed was between 75 and 85 knots with a right hand… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75512. 3.5 MB in all. - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 10-054 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2010-054-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 673 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351450&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports; Record of Telephone Conversation with FAA (item 3, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports;%20Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20with%20FAA-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Digital Photo FAA 1; Runway impact marks. (item 5, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Digital%20Photo%20FAA%201;%20Runway%20impact%20marks.-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.