# NTSB ERA12IA559: Cessna 402B, N218LG, Opa-Locka, FL, September 10, 2012

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 10, 2012, 16:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Opa-Locka, FL
- Coordinates: 25.907499, -80.278053 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9075&lon=-80.2781&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 85003
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12IA559
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85003/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85003
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12IA559

## Probable cause

The pilot’s turning the airplane too sharply while exiting the runway, which resulted in the failure of the right main landing gear bellcrank due to an overstress fracture.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 402B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=207590P), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 402B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=207590P), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 402B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=207590P), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-from runway: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Cessna 402B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=207590P), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 402B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=207590P), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airline transport pilot had landed the airplane after conducting a personal flight. He stated that, while turning left off of the active runway after landing, the airplane "began veering to the left" and that the right main landing gear (MLG) subsequently collapsed. Examination of the right MLG revealed that it had failed. Examination of the landing gear bellcrank revealed that one of the clevis knuckles on the long bellcrank arm was fractured. The fracture surface had a rough appearance and was at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the clevis arm, consistent with an overstress fracture. No other anomalies were noted with the landing gear.

## Factual narrative

On September 10, 2012, about 1650 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402B, N218LG, landed at Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF), Miami, Florida, and after clearing the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed. The airline transport-rated pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Waymen Aviation Services Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from OPF at 1600. The pilot stated that, while turning left off of the active runway after landing, the airplane "began veering to the left," and the right main landing gear subsequently collapsed. The right main landing gear was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, and he confirmed the damage to the right main landing gear assembly. The landing gear bellcrank was sent to the NTSB materials laboratory for examination. The bellcrank consisted of a long arm, approximately 7.5 inches long, and a short arm, approximately 2.1 inches long, with a 105-degree included angle between the two. The end of each arm was shaped in the form of a clevis. One of the clevis knuckles on the long bellcrank arm was fractured. The fracture surface had a rough appearance and was at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the clevis arm, consistent with an overstress fracture. No other anomalies were noted with the landing gear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N218LG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N218LG-2016-12-21), registration cancelled 2016-12-21, S/N 402B0218, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402B
- Registry model: [Cessna 402B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402b) (registry code 207590P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402B0218
- Airframe hours: 8216
- Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Wayman Aviation Services Inc
- Registered owner: Wayman Aviation Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 6, 2012, 3 hours before
- Departed: OPF, Opa-Locka, FL
- Destination: OPF, Opa-Locka, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: OPF, Opa-Locka Executive Airport, runway 27R, 4,309 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 3, 2011; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 9,433 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 8,843 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: OPF

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20120910017959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120910017959I), Sep 10, 2012: Cessna 402B, Opa Locka, FL, Minor damage. Aircraft landed at opf on runway 27R. Aircraft was taxiing off of the runway, while making a left turn the right main gear collapsed. Inspection revealed a…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85003. 20.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Materials Laboratory Factual Report (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF
- Evidence Control Form (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424957&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-Master.PDF
- Photo 1-Right main landing gear (FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407774&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Right%20main%20landing%20gear%20(FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2-Right main landing gear scissor assembly (FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407775&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-Right%20main%20landing%20gear%20scissor%20assembly%20(FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3-Broken landing gear scissor arm (FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407776&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-Broken%20landing%20gear%20scissor%20arm%20(FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4-Broken clevis knuckle (FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407777&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204-Broken%20clevis%20knuckle%20(FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 5-Landing gear scissor arm (NTSB) (item 8, .PDF, 869 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407778&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205-Landing%20gear%20scissor%20arm%20(NTSB)-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.

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