# NTSB LAX08LA060: Cessna 305-A, N473GF, Mokuleia, HI, February 14, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 14, 2008, 12:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Mokuleia, HI - Coordinates: 21.579444, -158.197219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.5794&lon=-158.1972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67535/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA060 ## Probable cause The failure of the left main landing gear strut due to fatigue. Contributing to the failure was the side load placed on the landing gear while making a crosswind landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 305A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2074002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot observed that the windsocks located at each end of runway indicated tailwinds of about 10 knots in either direction. The midfield sock indicated a direct crosswind from the north. The pilot elected to approach the east runway, and touched down abeam the midfield windsock. Upon touchdown the airplane encountered a left-to-right crosswind, and as the airplane decelerated, the pilot noticed the wind shift to a quartering right tailwind. He elected to abort the landing. As he advanced the throttle the engine sputtered, the left main gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped as it approached the runway's edge. Examination of the left main landing gear spring strut revealed that the strut separated where the wheel bolts to the strut. The fracture face of the strut was granular in texture and uniform matte gray in color. The fracture surface for the section of landing gear strut that remained attached to the wheel was closely examined, and it was noted that the fracture surface had an approximate 1/16 inch flat dark triangular section at the corner of the mounting bolt hole. The Safety Board Materials Laboratory examination confirmed the presence of a 0.072 inch fatigue crack at this location that would be sufficient to cause a failure of the strut. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 2008, at 1245 Hawaiian standard time, a Cessna 305-A, N473GF, experienced a left main landing gear collapse during a crosswind landing at Dillingham Airfield, Mokuleia, Hawaii. The airplane was operated by the Honolulu Soaring Club under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airline transport certificated pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated at Dillingham Airfield at 1230. The pilot reported that he observed the windsocks at each end of runway 8/26, and both indicated tail winds of about 10 knots in either direction. The midfield windsock indicated a direct crosswind from the north. He elected to approach runway 8 and touched down abeam the midfield windsock. Upon touchdown the airplane experienced a left-to-right crosswind, and as the airplane decelerated, the pilot noticed the wind shift to a quartering right tail wind. He elected to execute a go-around. As he advanced the throttle, the engine sputtered, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped to the left as it approached the runway's edge. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the left main landing gear spring strut and found that the strut separated where the wheel bolts to the strut. The fracture face of the strut was granular in texture and uniform matte gray in color. When the fracture surface of the landing gear strut section that remained attached to the wheel was more closely examined, it exhibited an approximate 1/16 inch flat dark triangular section at the corner of the mounting bolt hole. The Safety Board Materials Laboratory examination confirmed the presence of a 0.072 inch fatigue crack at this location. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N473GF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N473GF), registered now, S/N 2018, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 305-A - Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2018 - Airframe hours: 10000 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Glider tow, Part 91 - Operator: Honolulu Soaring Club - Registered owner: Honolulu Soaring Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: PHDH, Mokuleia, HI - Airport: PHDH, Dillingham Airfield, runway 8, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: center; flight hours: 14,000 total, 6 in this make and model, 140 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PHHI, 12 nm away 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.