# NTSB NYC91LA108: Cessna 402A, N104EC, Albany, NY, April 7, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 7, 1991, 06:00 local (11:00 UTC)
- Place: Albany, NY
- Coordinates: 42.699855, -73.760345 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6999&lon=-73.7603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36905
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC91LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36905/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA108

## Probable cause

A COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE GEAR DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR TRUNION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, taxi - to takeoff
  - landing gear,nose gear attach point - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS TAXIING BEFORE TAKEOFF WHEN THE AIRPLANE 'BEGAN A GRADUAL RIGHT TURN.'  HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IT VEERED OFF THE TAXIWAY ONTO THE GRASS.  WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE WENT ONTO THE GRASS, THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED TO THE RIGHT AS THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED.  THE FAA FOUND, 'THE NOSE GEAR TRUNION WAS BROKEN AT THE RIGHT SIDE ATTACH POINT, CAUSING THE NOSE GEAR TO COLLAPSE AND TEAR THE LEFT ATTACH POINT FROM THE WHEEL WELL.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N104EC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N104EC-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 402A0085, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402A
- Registry model: [Cessna 402A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402a) (registry code 207590M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0085
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-E 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Northland Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Hagop Hadjinian
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1991, 12 hours before
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ALB, Albany County, runway 19, 7,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 3,800 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19910407014379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910407014379A), Apr 7, 1991: Cessna 402A, Albany, NY, Substantial damage. Swerved off taxiway when nose gear collapsed. Nose gear trunion broke.

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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