# NTSB MIA02LA069: Cessna 182F, N3486U, Pell City, AL, March 23, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 23, 2002, 17:22 local (23:22 UTC) - Place: Pell City, AL - Coordinates: 33.558887, -86.249443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5589&lon=-86.2494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54387 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54387/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54387 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA069 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to properly recover from a bounced landing resulting in exceedance of the design limits and collapse of the nose gear assembly. A factor in the accident was the pilot's decision to continue flight with a known equipment deficiency. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis On the fourth parachute drop flight of the day for the pilot and aircraft, the pilot detected a reduction in elevator control authority on takeoff. He elected to continue the takeoff and climbed to 3,500 feet agl, where he released the two parachutists. On return to the airport, he used power to control his flare, but landed hard and began a porpoise maneuver. On the third touchdown, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft ran off the left side of the runway, sustaining substantial damage. Post accident inspection of the flight control system by FAA inspectors revealed no flight control interference, malfunction, or damage. ## Factual narrative On March 23, 2002, about 1722 central standard time, a Cessna 182F, N3486U, registered to Alabama Skydiving, Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 parachute jump flight, sustained a hard landing and a nose gear collapse at Pell City, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the commercially-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 10 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, prior to the accident flight, the aircraft performed normally in all aspects. Beginning his fourth parachute drop flight of the day, after a takeoff roll of about 3,000 feet and 5 to 10 feet above the 5,002 foot runway, he detected less than normal elevator authority with two parachute jumpers aboard. He decided to continue the takeoff because he had confidence in the power of the engine, and because of the lack of available runway remaining for an abort. Having climbed to release altitude, (3,500 feet, agl) and releasing his jumpers, on return to the field, he decided his best alternative was to use power to control the nose attitude. During his landing flare, he added power to raise the nose and touch down on the main wheels, but the touchdown was hard and the aircraft started a porpoise. The third touchdown was hard enough to collapse the nose gear and cause an excursion off the left side of the runway. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot stated that he had to ask for help manipulating the yoke in pitch during the takeoff rotation. The inspector examined the flight controls for interference and found none. He found full flight control continuity and authority from stop to stop, and observed no damage to or malfunction of the flight control system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3486U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3486U), registered now, S/N 18254886, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182F - Registry model: [Cessna 182F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182f) (registry code 2072714) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18254886 - Airframe hours: 5578 - Engines: Continental O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alabama Skydiving Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2002, 10 hours before - Departed: PLR, Pell City, AL - Destination: PLR - Airport: PLR, St. Clair County, runway 20, 5,002 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 12, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model, 935 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: BHM, 24 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 20020323004169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020323004169A), Mar 23, 2002: Cessna 182F, Pell City, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Ineffective elevator control became apparent during take off roll. (Ongoing investigation to determine cause of possible control malfunction). Pilot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54387. 459 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 425 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.