# NTSB ERA19TA216: Cessna 180, N75077, Pickens, SC, June 29, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: June 29, 2019, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Pickens, SC - Coordinates: 34.812778, -82.699722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8128&lon=-82.6997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99796 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19TA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99796/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99796 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA216 ## Probable cause Maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the right main landing gear brake assembly, which resulted in the loss of control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane when, after touchdown, the airplane veered left. He added power to go around, but the airplane veered left again, started to climb, then stalled and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane after the accident reported that the right main landing gear brake torque plate was improperly installed. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2019, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180, N75077, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Pickens County Airport (LQK), Pickens, South Carolina. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated he departed runway 23, flew once around the traffic pattern and returned to land. When he lowered the tailwheel after landing, the airplane veered left. He added power to go around; however, the airplane veered left again, started to climb, then stalled. Prior to the accident the airplane was modified in accordance with a supplemental type certificate for bush tires, and an annual inspection was performed on the airplane 2 weeks later. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane's left outboard wing was crushed upward, the nose was damaged, and the left main landing gear had separated. The inspector found no evidence that the brakes had “locked” during the landing. Further examination revealed the torque plate on the right main landing gear brake assembly was improperly installed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75077](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75077-2022-09-03), registration cancelled 2022-09-03, S/N 30290, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30290 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 4585 - Engines: Continental O-470J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 2019 - Departed: LQK, Pickens, SC - Destination: LQK, Pickens, SC - Airport: LQK, Pickens County, runway 23, 4,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,000 total, 15.1 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: LQK ## 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 20190629008589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190629008589A), Jun 29, 2019: Cessna 180, Liberty, SC, Substantial damage. N75077 departed the airfield via the grass area adjacent to runway 23. The pilot flew one left traffic pattern and landed on the grass area adjacent to runway… ## Other investigations on N75077 (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW93LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA025), Oct 27, 1992: Cessna 180 (N75077), Lubbock, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PARTIAL POWER LOSS DUE TO A DISCONNECTED THROTTLE CABLE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99796. 14.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11680183&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 9.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11753271&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11753281&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11662922&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11753592&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.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.