# NTSB LAX89LA118: Cessna 310, N4899B, Long Beach, CA, March 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 9, 1989, 21:20 local (Mar 10, 1989, 05:20 UTC)
- Place: Long Beach, CA
- Coordinates: 33.819644, -118.110404 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8196&lon=-118.1104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26344
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA118
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26344/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA118

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR STRUT ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted
  - landing gear,main gear strut scissors - separation (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear strut scissors - collapsed (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

A CESSNA 310 RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED WHILE TAXIING OFF THE RUNWAY AT THE LGB. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FELT A VIBRATION DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF ROLL AND OPTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. AS THE PILOT EXITED THE RUNWAY THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN RETURNED TO SERVICE FOLLOWING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND LANDING GEAR MAINTENACE ON MARCH 03, 1989. AIRCRAFTSMAN, A FIXED BASE OPERATOR AT THE LONG BEACH AIRPORT HAD REPLACED ALL BUSHINGS AND SPACERS IN THE MAIN GEAR TORQUE LINKS. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TORQUE LINK CENTER ATTACH BOLT WASHER WAS UNDER SIZE, ALLOWING THE UPPER TORQUE LINK TO PULL FREE FROM THE LOWER TORQUE LINK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4899B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4899B-2007-09-18), registration cancelled 2007-09-18, S/N 35199, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310
- Registry model: [Cessna 310](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310) (registry code 2074202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 35199
- Airframe hours: 5399
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470B 240 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Ryan, William A.
- Registered owner: William Ryan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1989, 2 hours before
- Airport: Long Beach, runway 25R, 6,192 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,560 total, 20 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 18 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890309020649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890309020649A), Mar 9, 1989: Cessna 310, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. Rough ride on takeoff. Aborted,right main gear collapsed. Torque link bolt washers undersize. Had just been replaced

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.

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