# NTSB MIA87LA169: Cessna 421B, N137JR, Miami, FL, June 3, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 3, 1987, 18:29 local (22:29 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.649074, -80.409767 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6491&lon=-80.4098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31920
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31920/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA169

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - failure,partial (cause)
  - material inadequate, manufacturer (cause)
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - not followed, other maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE LT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT THEN SLID TO A STOP. INSP OF THE LT LANDING GEAR REVEALED THAT THE UPPER & LOWER TORQUE LINKS WHICH MAINTAINS PARALLEL ALIGNMENT OF THE TIRE TO THE FUSELAGE SEPARATED. THIS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE LOWER TORQUE LINK BEING PULLED OVER THE OUTER WASHER, NUT AND COTTER KEY, WHICH, ALONG WITH A BOLT, SECURES THE UPPER TORQUE LINK TO THE LOWER. THE TIRE THEN TURNED SIDEWAYS PERPENDICULAR TO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AFTER WHICH THE ENTIRE GEAR ASSEMBLY THEN COLLAPSED REARWARD. EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED WASHER REVEALED THAT CESSNA SERVICE INFORMATION LETTER ME83-37 WHICH RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF THE TWO OUTER WASHERS WITH LARGER ONES, ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SCISSOR ASSY (TORQUE LINKS) HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N137JR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 421B0245
- Airframe hours: 4661
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSI0-520-L 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: O.C.King
- Registered owner: O.C. King
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 1986, 9 hours before
- Departed: TPA, TAMPA, FL
- Airport: TMB, Tamiami, runway 9R, 4,999 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA, 12 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 19870603021259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870603021259A), Jun 3, 1987: Cessna 421B, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. The left main gear collapsed on landing. The lower torque link had pulled over washer. Service letter not followed.

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.