- Date
- April 17, 1993, 12:35 local (19:35 UTC)
- Place
- Mesa, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5711XCessna 320
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930417009859A
- Case key
- 28365
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 separation of the steering spring from the steering yoke assembly due to inadequate installation. A factor in the accident was inadequate maintenance on the aircraft.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While approaching his original destination the pilot lowered the landing gear and immediately experienced a jammed rudder control system. The pilot said that retracting the landing gear resolved the control problem. The pilot elected to return to Mesa where crash fire rescue equipment was available. While orbiting the airport another aircraft confirmed that the nose landing gear was cocked about 90 degrees to the right. The pilot declared an emergency and landed. As the nose wheel touched the runway the aircraft ground looped to the right, collapsing the nose and right main landing gear. The aircraft was examined by an FAA airframe and power plant mechanic. According to his report, the right hand steering spring was found separated from the steering yoke. The pin, washer and cotter pin which attach the steering spring to the yoke assembly was not located. According to the maintenance records, the nose landing gear assembly was replaced in October 1991, about 200 flight hours prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
On April 17, 1993, at about 1235 hours MST, a Cessna 320, N5711X, ground looped on landing and collapsed the nose and right main landing gear at Mesa, Arizona. The aircraft was owned and operated by John T. Rooney of Mesa, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. Neither the certificated commercial pilot nor his one passenger were injured. The flight originated at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona, on the day of the mishap at about 1130 hours as a planned flight to Payson, Arizona.
The pilot was interviewed by telephone on April 21, 1993. He stated that after arriving in the Payson area, he extended the landing gear and immediately experienced a jammed rudder control system. The pilot said he retracted the landing gear and the problem went away. Instead of completing the planned landing at Payson, the pilot said that he returned to Mesa where crash fire rescue equipment was available. After arrival in the Mesa area, another aircraft came up and examined the aircraft.
The pilot of the other aircraft, N4572A, reported that the nose landing gear was cocked 90 degrees to the right. The pilot declared an emergency and landed on runway 4R at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona. When the nose landing gear touched down, the aircraft ground looped to the right and collapsed the nose and right main landing gear.
The aircraft was examined by an FAA airframe and power plant mechanic. According to his report of the examination, the right hand steering spring was found separated from the steering yoke and laying along the right side of the nose gear well. The left side steering spring was intact and attached to the steering yoke assembly. The pin, washer and cotter pin which attach the right hand steering spring to the yoke assembly was not located. The mechanic noted that he found no evidence of impact damage to the yoke or spring.
Review of the aircraft maintenance records revealed that the nose gear assembly was replaced in October of 1991, about 200 hours prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5711X
- Reported as
- Cessna 320
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 320-0011
- Airframe hours
- 3,150
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-470B, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John T. Rooney
- Registered owner
- Clark Oliver Mining Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 1992 · 53 hours before
- Destination
- E69 · Payson, AZ
- Airport
- FFZ · Mesa Falcon Field, runway 4R, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 64
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,230 total · 496 in this make and model · 1,890 as pilot in command · 68 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.