# NTSB GAA17CA445: Cessna 170, N5596C, San Andreas, CA, July 27, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 27, 2017, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: San Andreas, CA - Coordinates: 38.146667, -120.648612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1467&lon=-120.6486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95682 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA445 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95682/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95682 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA445 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare during an aborted go-around in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 170A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072304), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he landed on the main wheels, and while waiting for the tailwheel to drop, the "tailwheel jammed." He added that, when the tailwheel touched down, the airplane was difficult to control and veered to the left. He corrected for the veer, but the airplane veered to the right. He then conducted a go-around; however, once airborne, the airplane "did not appear to be producing proper power." He then aborted the go-around and opted to land on the remaining runway. About 25 ft above the runway, he set the airplane up for a wheel landing and descended. When the airplane was about 5 to 10 ft above the runway, the airplane "abruptly" sank and landed hard, and the main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest nose down on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he believed the tailwheel had jammed before touchdown and that he had previously redesigned and altered the tailwheel. Further, the airplane produced insufficient power during the go-around. He reported that the tailwheel was mechanically "okay" when examined after the accident. Additionally, an airframe and powerplants mechanic reported that he examined the tailwheel assembly after the accident and found no defects and no binding. The pilot reported that the weather at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, was wind from 320° at 10 knots, gusting to 12 knots. The pilot landed on runway 31. Photographs taken at the accident site showed torsional twisting of the propeller, consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact. The National Transportation Safety Board did not examine the engine. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, he landed on the main wheels, and while waiting for the tailwheel to drop, the "tailwheel jammed." He added, that when the tailwheel touched down, the airplane was difficult to control, and veered to the left. He corrected for the veer, but the airplane veered to the right. He then did a go-around, however, once airborne the airplane "did not appear to be producing proper power." He then aborted the go-around, and opted to land on the remaining runway. About 25 ft. above the runway, he set the airplane up for a wheel landing and descended. When the airplane was about 5-10 ft. above the runway, the airplane "abruptly" sank, landed hard and collapsed the main landing gear. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest nose down on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he believed the tailwheel had jammed prior to touchdown, and that he had previously re-designed and altered the tailwheel. Further, the airplane produced insufficient power during the go-around. He reported that, the tailwheel was mechanically "okay" when inspected after the accident. Additionally, an airframe and powerplant mechanic reported that he inspected the tailwheel assembly after the accident, and found no defects and no binding. The pilot reported the weather at the accident airport, about the time of the accident to be, wind from 320° at 10 knots, gusting to 12 knots. The pilot landed on runway 31. Photographs taken at the accident site showed torsional twisting of the propeller, consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact. The National Transportation Safety Board did not examine the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5596C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5596C), registered now, S/N 19650, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19650 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 4200 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 27, 2016 - Departed: HWD, HAYWARD, CA - Destination: CPU, San Andreas, CA - Airport: CPU, Calaveras Co-Maury Rasmussen F, runway 31, 3,603 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 26, 2015; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 28,842 total, 1,724 in this make and model, 11,847 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KSCK, 31 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 20170727010109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170727010109A), Jul 27, 2017: Cessna 170A, San Andreas, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot[privacy data omitted] stated that upon touching down on runway 31 at kcpu (calaveras) that the aircraft "ballooned " after the main landing gear… ## Other investigations on N5596C (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 CHI89LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA021), Nov 2, 1988: Cessna 170A (N5596C), Springfield, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95682. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 990 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 317 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 283 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457117&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Mechanic Statement and Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 533 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457118&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Statement%20and%20Photos-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.