- Date
- March 26, 2008, 15:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place
- Henderson, NV
- Injuries
- 9 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4010QCessna 402
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 15, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080326012599A
- Case key
- 67727
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the left main landing gear torque link assembly for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that following a normal takeoff he retracted the landing gear and noticed excessive drag. The pilot performed a low pass over the runway and ground-based witnesses observed that the right main landing gear appeared "twisted." The pilot then proceeded to his intended destination airport with emergency services and executed a gear up landing in gravel just short of the runway. Postaccident examination revealed that the left-hand main landing gear torque link upper attach fitting had fractured and the fracture surfaces exhibited an angular jagged matte, consistent with overload. The reason for the failure of the left main landing gear torque link assembly was undetermined.
Factual narrative
On March 26, 2008, at 1550 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 402, N4010Q, was substantially damaged during a gear up landing at the Henderson Executive Airport (HND), Henderson, Nevada. The airplane was registered to SkyVentures LLC, and operated by King Airelines, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the on-demand air taxi flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Canyon West Airport (1G4), Peach Springs, Arizona, at 1500.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that following a normal takeoff from 1G4, he observed normal gear up and locked indications via the landing gear position lights. Immediately following the gear retraction, he noticed excessive drag and decided to perform a low approach to the runway so personnel on the ground could assess the situation. Ground based witnesses observed that the right landing gear appeared "twisted."
The pilot continued the flight to HND where emergency services were available. He executed two low approaches to have ground crew reassess the condition of the landing gear. The pilot then executed an intentional gear up landing in a gravel area just short of the runway in an attempt to minimize damage to the airplane.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left-hand main landing gear torque link upper attach fitting was separated and the fracture surfaces exhibited an angular jagged matte appearance. The reason for the failure of the left main landing gear torque link assembly was undetermined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4010Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 402
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402-0110
- Airframe hours
- 13,382.4
- Engines
- Continental TSIO-520-E, reciprocatingContinental TSIO-520-E, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- King Airelines, Inc.
- Registered owner
- SkyVentures LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · February 1, 2008 · 47.9 hours before
- Departed
- 1G4 · Peach Springs, AZ
- Destination
- Henderson, NV
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- HND · Henderson Executive Airport, runway 17, 6,500 × 100 ft, gravel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,574 total · 650 in this make and model · 2,473 as pilot in command · 130 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- HND
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4010Q · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.