# NTSB NYC07CA139: Cessna 170A, N9910A, Smithfield, NC, June 2, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 2, 2007, 16:16 local (20:16 UTC) - Place: Smithfield, NC - Coordinates: 35.54111, -78.390274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5411&lon=-78.3903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65999 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65999/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA139 ## Probable cause Collapse of the left main landing gear during landing, for undetermined reasons, which resulted in substantial damage during a runway excursion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - reason for occurrence undetermined - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane landed on a 5,500-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. About 1,000 feet into the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane initially veered left, then veered right, and came to rest in a grass area off the right side of the runway. The pilot did not report the accident, but a maintenance facility reported it 12 days later. The owner of the maintenance facility stated that four bolts, which secured the left main landing gear wheel to the strut, had sheared. The pilot subsequently stated that the bolts appeared to be "rusty." A request was made for the maintenance facility to have the bolts forwarded to the Safety Board's Materials Laboratory, Washington, D.C. for examination; however, the maintenance facility had already discarded the bolts while repairing the airplane. The airplane had been operated for approximately 40 hours, since its last annual inspection, which was performed about 2 months prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing a 1950 Cessna 170A on runway 3; a 5,500-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. About 1,000 feet into the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane initially veered left, then veered right, and came to rest in a grass area off the right side of the runway. During the landing, the left main landing gear and left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report the accident, but a maintenance facility notified the Federal Aviation Administration 12 days after the accident. The owner of the maintenance facility stated that four bolts, which secured the left main landing gear wheel to the strut, had sheared. The pilot subsequently stated that the bolts appeared to be "rusty." A request was made for the maintenance facility to have the bolts forwarded to the Safety Board's Materials Laboratory, Washington, D.C. for examination; however, the maintenance facility had already discarded the bolts while repairing the airplane. The airplane had been operated for approximately 40 hours, since its last annual inspection, which was performed about 2 months prior to the accident. The reported wind at the airport, about the time of the accident, was from 150 degrees at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9910A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9910A), registered now, S/N 19270 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 170A - Registry model: [Cessna 170A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170a) (registry code 2072304) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19270 - Airframe hours: 1540 - Engines: Continental C-145 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lawrence W. Fink - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007, 40 hours before - Departed: SC37, Cross, SC - Destination: JNX, Smithfield, NC - Airport: JNX, Johnston County Airport, runway 3, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 295 total, 25 in this make and model, 220 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: JNX ## 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 20070602019399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070602019399A), Jun 2, 2007: Cessna 170A, Smithfield, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) On aircraft rollout after landing at johnson county airport in goldsboro, NC, left main gear axle bolts sheared causing wheel and axle to fold under left… ## Other investigations on N9910A (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC08LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA009), Oct 7, 2007: Cessna 170A (N9910A), Roxboro, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control during landing. 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.