# NTSB LAX00LA028: Cessna 305A, N5198G, Torrance, CA, October 30, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 30, 1999, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Torrance, CA - Coordinates: 33.800155, -118.349395 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8002&lon=-118.3494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47675 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47675/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing rollout due to the failure of the tail wheel control system. A contributing factor was the quartering tailwind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - landing gear,tailwheel assembly - failure,total (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The pilot performed a normal three-point touchdown in his conventional gear airplane on runway 11R, when the wind was from 300 degrees at 10 knots. After rolling out for several hundred feet he applied right rudder to correct for the left quartering tailwind condition. The tail wheel steering did not function properly. The pilot lost control of his airplane, and it veered off the runway into the adjacent plowed field and nosed over. The tail wheel assembly was subsequently examined. An internal tail wheel centering spring was found broken. The total time on the part was about 400 hours. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 1999, at 1420 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 305A, N5198G, owned and operated by the pilot, veered off the runway and nosed over during landing rollout at the Zamperini Field, Torrance, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial certificated pilot nor the passenger was injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Carlsbad, California about 1315. The pilot reported to the Safety Board investigator that as he approached the airport he heard the automatic terminal information service broadcast (ATIS). He stated, however, that he did not realize he would experience a quartering tailwind during landing. The wind was reported at 300 degrees, 10 knots. The pilot further reported that he performed a normal three-point touchdown in his conventional gear airplane. An air traffic controller, who witnessed the accident, reported that the airplane landed on the runway and no evidence of bouncing was observed. The pilot stated that after rolling for several hundred feet he applied right rudder to correct for a (left quartering) tailwind. However, the tail wheel steering did not function properly. Thereafter, he lost control, veered off the runway into the adjacent plowed field, and nosed over. The pilot stated that a malfunction in the airplane's tail wheel control system contributed to his inability to steer the airplane. The tail wheel assembly was subsequently examined. An internal tail wheel centering spring was found broken. The total time on the part was about 400 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: N5198G (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 305A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21831 - Airframe hours: 15036 - Engines: Continental O-470-11B 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John E. Madison - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1999, 50 hours before - Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA - Destination: TOA - Airport: TOA, Torrance, runway 11R, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,921 total, 1,336 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TOA ## 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 19991030042829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991030042829A), Oct 30, 1999: Cessna 305A, Torrance, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot reported to the safety board investigator that as he approached the airport he heard the automatic terminal information service broadcast… 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.