# NTSB ERA22LA282: Cessna 414, N414HF, Jasper, GA, June 18, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 18, 2022, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Jasper, GA · On airport, adjacent rwy 34
- Coordinates: 34.453472, -84.457222 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4535&lon=-84.4572&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105310
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA282
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105310/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105310
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA282

## Probable cause

The failure of the owner to comply with a service bulletin, which resulted in the failure of the left main landing gear torque tube due to fatigue cracking.

## Findings

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

- [Landing gear system: landing gear actuator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md)
- [Maintenance: replacement](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062020/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 414, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2075908), [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 414, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After touchdown on the runway, the airplane’s left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to the left, departed the runway surface, and struck a taxiway sign. The left wing was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination revealed that the left main landing gear torque tube had fractured, which resulted in the gear collapse. Further examination of the torque tube revealed that it failed from fatigue cracks that originated in multiple locations. A service bulletin issued by the airplane’s manufacturer required replacement of the torque tube at 4,000 hours time in service to prevent fatigue failure of the torque tube; however, the airplane had accrued about 5,000 hours total time, and the tube was original to the airplane. While compliance with the service bulletin was not mandatory, replacement of torque tube would have likely prevented the accident.

## Factual narrative

On June 18, 2022, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 414, N414HF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Jasper, Georgia. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that after touchdown on runway 34 the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to the left, departed the runway surface, and struck a taxiway sign. The pilot also reported that he had “3 green” indications before touchdown, and the landing was “smooth and straight.” An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The inspector reported that the left wing sustained substantial damage to the lower structure. The landing gear was collapsed, and the left main landing gear torque tube was fractured. After recovery of the wreckage to the ramp, maintenance personal removed the fractured torque tube, and it was forwarded to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for further examination. The examination revealed the presence of multiple fatigue cracks near the weld between the boss arm and the tube body. The opposite-facing fatigue cracks propagated inward from the outer and inner surfaces, consistent with reverse bending at this location. The cracks initiated from multiple crack initiation sites. Cessna Multi-engine Service Bulletin (SB) MEB09-2, dated May 11, 2009, addressed the issue of main landing gear torque tube failure. The service bulletin stated that noncompliance could result in fatigue failure of the torque tube. The SB required replacement of the tube at 4,000 hours of time in service. According to the owner, the airplane total time was 5,000 hours, and the torque tube was original to the airplane. The service bulletin was not included in an FAA Airworthiness Directive. An FAA fact sheet titled “Service Bulletins and the Aircraft Owner,” stated in part: “Are Service Bulletins Mandatory? The short answer is – it depends. If you are operating your aircraft under 14 CFR part 91, a service bulletin is advisory, and compliance is not mandatory unless it is included in an Airworthiness Directive. Keep in mind that even when a service bulletin is not mandatory, you should always pay attention to it as a means to ensure your safety….”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N414HF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N414HF), registered now, S/N 414-0389 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 414
- Registry model: [Cessna 414](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414) (registry code 2075908) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 414-0389
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 5000
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520-NB 335 hp reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520-NB 335 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2021, 100 hours before
- Departed: 18A, Canon, GA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: JZP, Pickens County, runway 34, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,410 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: VPC, 28 nm away
- METAR: KVPC 182335Z AUTO 01008G13KT 330V040 10SM CLR 30/11 A2997 RMK AO2

## 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 20220618010599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220618010599A), Jun 18, 2022: Cessna 414, Jasper, GA, Substantial damage. On June 18, 2022 @ 1800, [privacy data omitted] serial number 414-0389^ traveling from canon, Georgia(18A) to Jasper, Georgia (jzp) landed on rwy 34 and during…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105310. 12.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14950987&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's written statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14951179&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB mor FAA interview (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14950491&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20NTSB%20MOR%20FAA%20Interview-Rel.pdf
- Cessna service bulletin MEB09-2 (item 4, PDF, 9 pages, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14951486&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Cessna%20MEB09-2-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14951644&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Materials laboratory factual report (item 6, PDF, 13 pages, 16 photos, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14846912&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=22-094%20-%20Materials%20Lab%20Factual%20Report%20(ERA22LA282)-Rel.pdf
- FAA fact sheet - service bulletins and the aircraft owner (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16311289&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ServiceBulletins_AircraftOwner-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.

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