# NTSB NYC84FA089: Cessna 401A, N6252Q, Linden, NJ, February 18, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 18, 1984, 16:01 local (21:01 UTC)
- Place: Linden, NJ
- Location: 40.6174° N, 74.2446° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LINDEN (LDJ), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6174&lon=-74.2446&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35317
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35317/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FA089

## Sequence of events

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

- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,total (cause)
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - failure,total (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - failure,total (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER LANDING. A CFI AWAITING TAKEOFF SAID THAT THE APPROACH AND TOUCHDOWN WERE NORMAL WITH THE GEAR DOWN. AS THE ACFT ROLLED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT GRADUALLY LEFT THE RWY AND BECAME MIREDIN MUD. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR RETRACTION BELLCRANK WAS BROKEN FREE FROM ITS MOUNTING CLEVIS. THE ATTACH BOLT WAS FRACTURED NEAR THE HEAD. THE FOWARD CLEVIS EAR WAS BROKEN. NEITHER THE BOLT HEAD NOR THE FRACTURED PORTION OF THE FOWARD CLEVIS EAR WERE RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6252Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6252Q-1990-05-16), registration cancelled 1990-05-16, S/N 401A0052 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 401A
- Registry model: [Cessna 401A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-401a) (registry code 207590D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 401A0052
- Airframe hours: 5090
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Aero Industries
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: RIC, RICHMOND, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LDJ, Linden, runway 27, 4,137 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,881 total, 164 in this make and model, 1,707 as pilot in command, 224 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EWR, 5 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 19840218071369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840218071369A), Feb 18, 1984: Cessna 401A, Linden, NJ, Substantial damage. Left main landing gear collapsed during landing roll. Main gear retraction bellcrank broken free from mounting.

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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