# NTSB LAX03LA033: Cessna 172M, N548RM, Rosamond, CA, November 16, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 15, 2002, 18:40 local (Nov 16, 2002, 02:40 UTC) - Place: Rosamond, CA - Coordinates: 34.873611, -118.215278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8736&lon=-118.2153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56079 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56079/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA033 ## Probable cause The fatigue failure of left main landing gear strut at the upper fuselage aft attachment hole, which resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear during the landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear strut - failure,total (cause) - landing gear,main gear strut - fatigue (cause) ## Analysis On the landing rollout, after the pilot applied the brakes, the left main landing gear collapsed, which damaged the wing spar. The landing gear strut and associated hardware were examined by the Safety Board Materials Laboratory. The examination revealed that an area of fatigue was noted on the aft outboard side of the upper attachment hole, and displayed corrosion pitting and fatigue cracking. Machining marks were also present, and may have accelerated the corrosion process. The airplane went through a 100-hour inspection 8 months prior to the accident. The inspection included a check of the landing gear. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 2002, about 1840 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172M, N548RM, veered off the runway and the left main landing gear collapsed during the landing rollout on runway 7 at Rosamond Skypark Airport (L00), Rosamond, California. The airplane was rented by the pilot, and operated by Sun Quest Aviation, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The local area flight departed Whiteman Airport (WHP), Los Angeles, California, about 1730. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. In the pilot's written statement he indicated that the flight to Rosamond was uneventful. On the landing rollout, he applied the brakes to exit the runway, and the airplane veered to the left in a left wing low attitude. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the airplane on scene, the left main landing gear's tubular spring-steel strut displayed a jagged break inside the fuselage. The FAA inspector further reported that there were tire signatures (not skid marks) on the runway. The airplane veered to the left side of the runway, where the left main landing gear collapsed. The airframe logbooks were reviewed by the FAA inspector. He indicated that there was a history of hard landings in the accident airplane. The airplane was returned to service after the 100-hour inspection, which included an inspection of the landing gear, was completed on March 30, 2002. The left main landing gear assembly was sent to the Safety Board Materials Laboratory for further inspection. The cylindrical strut tube broke into three main pieces. The majority of the observed fracture surfaces were light gray with a speckled appearance and chevron marks, "features consistent with [an] overstress fracture." The aft outboard upper side of the strut had corrosion pits in the attachment hole. An area of "fatigue" was observed on the aft outboard side of the upper attachment hole. The fatigue features "emanated from multiple origins at the surface of the attachment hole." Machining marks were also found on the upper attachment hole surface. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N548RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N548RM-2010-01-07), registration cancelled 2010-01-07, S/N 17262648, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17262648 - Airframe hours: 6729.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sunquest Air Specialties Inc - Registered owner: Douglas Crawford - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 13, 2002 - Departed: WHP, Los Angeles, CA - Destination: L00, Rosamond, CA - Airport: L00, Rosamond Skypark Airport, runway 07, 3,600 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 30, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 469 total, 405 in this make and model, 376 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: PMD, 16 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 20021115034059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021115034059A), Nov 15, 2002: Cessna 172M, Rosamond, CA, Substantial damage. (.19) On November 15, 2002, at 1800 pacific standard time, a Cessna 172M, N548RM, veered off the runway during the landing rollout on runway 7 at the Rosamond… 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.