- Date
- October 31, 2004, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Pensacola, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N340BKCessna 340A-RAM VI
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 30, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20041031027689A
- Case key
- 60615
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 left landing gear collapsing due to the actuator separating for undetermined reasons.
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
The pilot stated that after having completed a thorough preflight inspection, he was taxiing the airplane for takeoff, when the left main landing gear collapsed. He stated that the airplane had crossed runway 17, and was at the intersection of taxiways Alpha and Bravo when the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane incurred damage to its left wing, and left horizontal stabilizer. An FAA licensed mechanic conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft, and stated that the landing gear mechanism separated in the area where the actuating rod connects to the landing gear trunion. He said that the fracture surfaces showed no signs of fatigue when examined under magnification, and that he observed no anomalies with how the rigging of the landing gear.
Factual narrative
On October 31, 2004, about 0830 central standard time, a Cessna 340A-Ram VI airplane, N340BK, registered to RAL Investments, Inc., and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, had the left main landing gear collapse while the airplane was being taxied at Pensacola, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that after having completed a thorough preflight inspection, as he was taxiing the airplane for takeoff, the left main landing gear collapsed. He stated that the airplane had crossed runway 17, and was at the intersection of taxiways Alpha and Bravo when the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane incurred damage to its left wing, and left horizontal stabilizer.
An FAA licensed mechanic conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft, and later repaired the accident airplane. According to the mechanic, the landing gear mechanism had separated in the area where the actuating rod hooks to the landing gear trunion. He said that the fracture surfaces showed no sign of fatigue when examined under magnification, and that he also observed no anomalies with how the landing gear had been rigged or maintained.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N340BK
- Reported as
- Cessna 340A-RAM VI
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 340A-0406
- Airframe hours
- 4,025
- Engines
- Continental TSIO-520N, 335 horsepower, reciprocatingContinental TSIO-520N, 335 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- RAL Investments, Inc.,
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2004
- Departed
- PNS · Pensacola, FL
- Destination
- TIX · Titusville, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- PNS · Pensacola Regional
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
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,875 total · 1,525 in this make and model · 2,500 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- PNS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.