# NTSB NYC03LA099: Cessna 182F, N3591Y, Washington Cour, OH, May 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 4, 2003, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Washington Cour, OH - Coordinates: 39.570278, -83.420555 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5703&lon=-83.4206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56950 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56950/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56950 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA099 ## Probable cause Failure of the nose gear assembly. A factor was the inadequate inspection by the pilot/mechanic. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear assembly - failure (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, owner/pilot mechanic (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis A witness reported that the airplane touched down within 1,000 feet of the runway threshold. The airplane rolled about 200 feet, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane then veered left and came to rest inverted. The witness added that the nose gear collapse left scrape marks on the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the upper link of the nose gear torque knee had failed. Grease and oil film were observed on the fracture surface, consistent with a pre-existing crack. The pilot was also a certificated mechanic, and stated that he performed the last annual inspection on the airplane about 11 months prior to the accident. However, the pilot could not produce the aircraft logbooks. The pilot surmised that a crack formed after the previous inspection of the airplane, but was covered by the grease and oil from the engine. The pilot added that the airplane was frequently operated out of rough airstrips. ## Factual narrative On May 4, 2003, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182F, N3591Y, was substantially damaged while landing at Fayette County Airport (I23), Washington Court House, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Barber Airport, Alliance, Ohio. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airport manager stated that he witnessed the accident. According to the airport manager, the accident airplane landed within the first 1,000 feet on runway 22. It rolled about 200 feet, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane then veered left and came to rest inverted. The airport manager added that the nose gear collapse left scrape marks on the runway. During his first telephone interview, the pilot stated that he landed uneventfully on runway 22, and turned onto a taxiway. While taxiing the airplane to the ramp, the nose gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground. The pilot observed that the upper link of the nose gear torque knee had failed. The pilot surmised that a crack formed after the previous annual inspection of the airplane, but was covered by the grease and oil from the engine. He added that the airplane was frequently operated out of rough airstrips. According to his written statement, the pilot landed, taxied to the ramp, shut-down, and used the restrooms. The pilot then went back to the airplane to "trouble shoot" a gear shimmy. While taxiing, the nose gear collapsed. The pilot added that he did not intend to fly, "just taxi." According to his second telephone interview, the pilot stated that he had landed a different airplane uneventfully. He then took the accident airplane for a test-taxi on the runway. When asked about the other airplane the pilot landed, he stated that his legal representative told him not to provide any further statements. The pilot added that the airport manager's statement was incorrect, and the pilot planned to speak with the manager. Subsequently, the airport manager sent a letter stating that he did not observe the pilot, "...acting as PIC in a flight capacity..." The pilot was also a certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic. The pilot stated that he performed the airplane's last annual inspection in May, 2002; however, the pilot could not produce the aircraft logbooks. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector observed grease and oil film on the fracture surfaces, consistent with a pre-existing crack. The inspector observed damage to the propeller and two ribs in the right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3591Y (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182F - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18254491 - Airframe hours: 3380 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Keeney - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2002 - Departed: 2D1, Alliance, OH - Destination: I23, Washington Cour, OH - Airport: I23, Fayette County Airport, runway 22, 5,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 15, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CMH, 30 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 20030504010869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030504010869A), May 4, 2003: Cessna 182F, Washington Ch, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) The upper portion of the nose wheel scissors broke during the landing roll-out. The nose wheel turned hard left causing the propeller & the right wing to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56950. 409 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 273 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371217&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence from Airport Manager (item 3, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20from%20Airport%20Manager-Redacted.PDF 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.