# NTSB NYC91LA027: Cessna 404, N54SA, Pittsburgh, PA, November 13, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 12, 1990, 21:19 local (Nov 13, 1990, 02:19 UTC)
- Place: Pittsburgh, PA
- Location: 40.4914° N, 80.2327° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PITTSBURGH INTL (PIT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4914&lon=-80.2327&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 28, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36841
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36841/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA027

## Probable cause

A FAILURE OF NOSE LANDING GEAR RETRACTION CYLINDER ATTACH POINTS WHICH ALLOWED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

THE CESSNA 404 OPERATING ON A CARGO FLIGHT TOUCHED DOWN AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE FAA EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND FOUND THE ATTACH POINTS FOR THE NOSE LANDING GEAR RETRACTION CYLINDER HAD RIPPED OUT. THE BOLT HOLES SHOWED SIGNS OF WORKING AND WERE WORN. IN ADDITION, THEY REPORTED THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL REFERENCE TO THE AREA IS GENERAL IN NATURE. THE LOCATION OF THE FAILURE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO VIEW DURING INSPECTION DUE TO LIMITED ACCESS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54SA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54SA), registered now, S/N 404-0426 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 404
- Registry model: [Cessna 404](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-404) (registry code 2075901) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 404-0426
- Airframe hours: 9310
- Engines: CONTINENTAL GTSIO-520-M 375 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Superior Aviation Inc
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 12, 1990, 33 hours before
- Departed: CBE, CUMBERLAND, MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PIT, Pittsburgh, runway 28R, 10,502 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,103 total, 50 in this make and model, 1,963 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 19 °F

## 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 19901112050989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901112050989A), Nov 12, 1990: Cessna 404CESSNA, Pittsburgh, PA, Substantial damage. Nose gear collapsed on landing roll. Attach bolts were badly worn and broke off as nose wheel touched down.

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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