- Date
- September 13, 1997, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place
- Williston, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N12WTCessna 411
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 10, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970913026539A
- Case key
- 38341
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 pilot-in-command's excessive taxi speed.
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
While attempting a 130-degree change in direction to the right off the runway while travelling, according to witnesses, 'a little fast', the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the left main landing gear revealed that the side brace lock bolt was failed. Metallurgical examination of the failed bolt revealed that it failed due to shear. Hardness tests indicate that it was within limits. The bolt had been installed 3.0 hours earlier during the last annual inspection.
Factual narrative
On September 13, 1997, about 1640 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 411, registered to a private individual, experienced a collapse of the left main landing gear while taxiing off the runway at the Williston Municipal Airport, Williston, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 10 minutes earlier form the Ocala Regional/Jim Taylor Field Airport, Ocala, Florida.
The pilot stated that after landing on runway 22 while attempting to turn off the runway onto taxiway A, the left main landing gear collapsed. According to a private pilot-rated witness, the airplane was traveling "a little fast" when the pilot attempted to turn onto the taxiway. Review of the airport layout revealed an approximate 130-degree change in direction to the right from the runway centerline to the centerline of Taxiway A.
The damage was initially reported the day of the occurrence as minor; however, a subsequent detailed inspection revealed spar damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the left main landing gear revealed that the side brace lock attaching bolt Part No. AN25-38A, was failed.
Metallurgical examination of the failed bolt revealed that it failed due to shear. No evidence of preexisting cracks or corrosion was noted. Hardness tests were performed at three portions on the grip portion of the bolt which revealed values of 28.8, 28.9 and 30.0 RH C respectively. Review of the Military Handbook Identification Markings For Fasteners, Bolts, Screws, Studs, Nuts, and Rivets, revealed that based on the bolt head configuration and markings, the specified RH: C values are between 26-32.
Review of the maintenance records revealed that the bolt had been replaced at the last annual inspection which was accomplished on September 1, 1997. The airplane had accumulated 3.0 hours since the inspection at the time of the failure.
The airplane minus the retained hardware was released to Mr. Dave Lucas of Dave Lucas International on December 11, 1997. The retained hardware was also released to Mr. Lucas on December 19, 1997.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N12WT
- Reported as
- Cessna 411
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 411-0080
- Airframe hours
- 4,232
- Engine
- Continental GTSIO-520-C, 340 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Neal J. Fisher
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 1997 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- OCF · Ocala, FL
- Destination
- X60
- Airport
- X60 · Williston Municipal, runway 22, 5,050 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 23
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,202 total · 150 in this make and model · 830 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OCF, 17 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.
Other investigations on N12WT · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.