- Date
- July 15, 2000, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Snohomish, WA
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N6473ACessna 182
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000715013559A
- Case key
- 49736
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The right main landing gear failed for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that she taxied the aircraft to the grass covered run-up area in preparation for takeoff. As the aircraft moved over the grass, a 'snapping' sound was heard and the aircraft 'tilted back and to the right.' The right wing and right side stabilizer contacted the ground. Inspection of the right side landing gear revealed that the right landing gear spring failed at the mating area of the outside support, located inside the aircraft fuselage. After the accident, and prior to NTSB or FAA notification, recovery personnel welded the gear leg back into place in order to move the aircraft from the run-up area.
Factual narrative
On July 15, 2000, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182, N6473A, registered to the owner of Snohomish Parachute Center as a 14 CFR Part 91 parachute drop operation, broke the right main landing gear leg while taxiing for takeoff at Harvey Field, Snohomish, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot and her four passengers (parachutists) were not injured.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that she taxied the aircraft to the run-up area in preparation for takeoff on runway 32. The run-up area is grass covered. As the aircraft moved over the grass, a "snapping" sound was heard and the aircraft "tilted back and to the right." The pilot shut the engine down and the occupants exited the aircraft.
Upon inspection of the aircraft, it was found that the right side main landing gear leg broke and penetrated the cabin wall. The right wing and right side horizontal stabilizer subsequently contacted the ground.
The owner of the aircraft reported that in order to move the aircraft off of the run-up area, the gear leg was welded back into place. This was done prior to notification of the accident, and before National Transportation Safety Board or Federal Aviation Administration inspection to determine the failure mode.
A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Seattle, Washington, Flight Standards District Office, inspected the aircraft and reported that p/n: 0741009-4 - right landing gear spring failed at the mating area of p/n: 0541121-2 - landing gear outside support, located inside the aircraft fuselage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6473A
- Reported as
- Cessna 182
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 33273
- Airframe hours
- 14,306
- Engine
- Continental O-470-SO, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Snohomish Parachute Center
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 15, 2000 · 61 hours before
- Airport
- S43 · Harvey Field, runway 32, 2,660 × 36 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 635 total · 11 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 335° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.