- Date
- May 6, 1983, 14:46 local (18:46 UTC)
- Place
- Gainesville, FL
- Injuries
- 6 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3237UCessna 421C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations
- Yes
- FAA report
- 19830506020819A
- Case key
- 30887
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
During takeoff, the aircrew heard an unusual 'thud' sound as the gear was retracting, but all gear indications were normal. Prior to landing at the destination, 3 green lights were observed when the landing gear switch was moved to extend the gear. A normal touchdown was made, but when the nose was lower, the acft settled on its nose. An investigation revealed that the rod end, pn MS21242S4K, which connects the nose gear to the nose gear actuator, had failed. A metallurgical exam revealed signs of high stress fatigue cracking over 1/2 of the fracture surface. The fatigue originated in the curve of a thread runout that was corroded. The radius of the curved surface measured 0.056 inch. The specification, MS-21242, required a minimum radius of 0.063 inch. Since the down position switch was connected the actuator, it had indicated a safe indication when the actuator had operated to the extended position. However, with the rod end failure, the nose gear was hanging in an locked position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3237U
- Reported as
- Cessna 421C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 421C0112
- Airframe hours
- 1,890
- Engine
- Continental GTSIO-520-L, 375 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Kenn Aire Holding Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PBI · West Palm Beach, FL
- Airport
- GNV · Gainesville Regional, runway 6, 4,147 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Flight engineer, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 24,400 total · 1,220 in this make and model · 23,800 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GNV
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.