# NTSB ERA17LA298: Cessna 305, N1834, Wurtsboro, NY, August 27, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 27, 2017, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Wurtsboro, NY
- Coordinates: 41.596668, -74.461387 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5967&lon=-74.4614&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95910
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA298
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95910/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95910
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA298

## Probable cause

A fatigue fracture of the left main landing gear axle.

## 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 · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=2073902), [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 Ector 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna Ector 305A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073902), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After completing five glider tow flights, the commercial pilot landed the airplane on the turf runway. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear wheel separated from the axle; the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder and wings. Postaccident examination revealed that the axle of the left main landing gear assembly was fractured near the end that would have been attached to the landing gear strut. There were two opposing fatigue regions on the fracture surface separated by an overstress region. The first fatigue region had a shiny appearance consistent with recontact of the fracture surfaces. The second fatigue region exhibited a more matte appearance and covered a larger area than the first region. In addition, the tread of the rubber tire exhibited a wear pattern that was not centered but instead had shifted toward the shoulder. It is possible that the axle had a crack for an unknown amount of time, then was reassembled 180° rotated when it began to fatigue again on the opposing side. As a result of the canting of the wheel because of the larger fatigue crack, the wear pattern of the tire shifted from the centerline to the shoulder of the tire. According to the maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was performed about 12 months before the accident, which would have been the most recent time the landing gear system was completely examined. Since the origination time of the crack is unknown, the investigation could not determine if the mechanic performing the most recent annual inspection would have been able to see and identify the fatigue fracture.

## Factual narrative

On August 27, 2017, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 305A, N1834, was substantially damaged during the landing roll at Wurtsboro- Sullivan County Airport (N82), Wurtsboro, New York. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by a corporation as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 glider tow flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.According to the pilot, he completed five glider tow flights prior to the accident flight. After he landed on a turf runway, during the landing roll, the pilot noticed a "severe vibration." Next, the airplane stopped, nosed over, and came to rest inverted on the turf runway. During the accident sequence, the wings and rudder were substantially damaged. In addition, the left main landing gear wheel had separated from the axle. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the airplane was manufactured in 1964. It was equipped with a Continental Motors Inc. O-470 series engine, a 213-hp, engine. According to the airframe maintenance logbook, the most recent annual inspection was performed on September 3, 2016, at a total time of 4,677.8 hours. At that time, it was "found to be in airworthy condition." An examination of the left main landing gear wheel axle by the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory revealed that the axle of the left main landing gear assembly was fractured near the end that would have been attached to the landing gear strut. Examination of the fracture surface using a stereo microscope revealed fracture features consistent with a fatigue fracture. There were two opposing fatigue regions on the fracture surface separated by an overstress region. The first fatigue region had a shiny appearance consistent with recontact of the fracture surfaces. The second fatigue region exhibited a more matte appearance and covered a larger area than the first region. In addition, the tread of the rubber tire exhibited a wear pattern that was not centered but instead had shifted towards the shoulder. According to Part 43 Appendix D – Scope and Detail of Items (as Applicable to Particular Aircraft) To Be Included in Annual and 100-Hour inspections, "each person performing an annual or 100-hour inspection shall inspect (where applicable) the following components of the landing gear group: 1) All units – for poor condition and insecurity of attachment. 3) Linkages, trusses, and members – for undue or excessive wear fatigue, and distortion. 7) Wheels – for cracks, defects, and condition of bearings. 8) Tires – for wear and cuts."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1834](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1834-2018-11-30), registration cancelled 2018-11-30, S/N 2006, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 305 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna Ector 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-ector-305a) (registry code 2073902) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2006
- Year built: 1964
- Airframe hours: 4677.8
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 213 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Waco Transport Business Trust
- Registered owner: Waco Transport Business Trust
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 3, 2016
- Departed: N82, Wurtsboro, NY
- Destination: N82, Wurtsboro, NY
- Airport: N82, Wurtsboro-Sullivan County, runway 05, 3,591 × 60 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: MGJ, 10 nm away

## 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 20170827013669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170827013669A), Aug 27, 2017: Cessna Ector 305A, Wurtsboro, NY, Substantial damage. Wurtsboro, NY (N82) on return to base after completing 5 glider tows, pilot touched down normally on grass area of runway at approximately 1530 local time, and…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95910. 3.5 MB in all.

- Memorandum for Record - NTSB Pilot/Operator Report Not Received (item 1, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20NTSB%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Report%20Not%20Received-Master.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476332&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Airframe Maintenance Records Excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 652 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpts-Master.PDF
- NTSB Materials Laboratory Report (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 357 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476334&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Materials%20Laboratory%20Report-Master.PDF
- Investigative Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476335&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Master.PDF
- Weather Observations (item 6, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF
- Evidence Control Form (item 7, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form-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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