# NTSB MIA96LA076: Cessna 310L, N2201F, Auburn, AL, February 8, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 8, 1996, 17:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Auburn, AL
- Coordinates: 32.589084, -85.479698 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5891&lon=-85.4797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 22, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37979
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37979/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA076

## Probable cause

an overstress failure of the left main gear side brace lock end fitting for undetermined reasons.

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - overload (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear - collapsed

## Analysis

During the landing roll, at about 40 knots, the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the landing gear showed that the side brace lock end fitting had failed allowing the gear to collapse. Metallurgical examination of the end fitting showed it failed due to overstress.

## Factual narrative

On February 8, 1996, about 1720 central standard time, a Cessna 310L, N2201F, registered to Air Carriers Inc., experienced collapse of the left main landing gear during landing roll at the Auburn Opelika Airport, Auburn, Alabama, while on a 14 CFR Part 135 air taxi flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight had originated from Jacksonville, Florida, the same day about 1545.

The pilot stated that during landing on runway 18, the aircraft was rolling on all three landing gear and had slowed to 40 knots when the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing tip tank struck the runway and the aircraft rotated around 160 degrees from runway heading, where it came to rest.

Postcrash examination of the aircraft was performed by FAA inspectors and company maintenance personnel. The left main gear side brace lock end fitting had failed, allowing the gear to collapse. Metallurgical examination of the failed end fitting was performed by the NTSB Material Laboratory, Washington, D.C. The end fitting failed due to overstress. See attached NTSB Metallurgist's Factual Report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2201F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 310L
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310L0001
- Airframe hours: 6555
- Engines: Continental IO-420-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Air Carriers Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 6, 1996, 11 hours before
- Departed: CRG, JACKSONVILLE, FL
- Destination: AUO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AUO, Auburn-Opelika, runway 18, 3,933 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,765 total, 465 in this make and model, 2,587 as pilot in command, 226 in the last 90 days, 78 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AUO, 1 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 19960208001459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960208001459A), Feb 8, 1996: Cessna 310L, Auburn, AL, Substantial damage. Left main landing gear failed on landing roll. Side brace lock end fitting had failed from over stress.

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.

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