# NTSB SEA00TA138: Cessna 182R, N101SP, John Day, OR, July 21, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 21, 2000, 14:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: John Day, OR
- Coordinates: 44.419551, -118.940414 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4196&lon=-118.9404&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 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49794
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00TA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49794/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00TA138

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare on touchdown resulting in a hard landing.  A factor was the pilot's  entrance into an inadvertent porpoise condition.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The Cessna 182R pilot reported that he set up for a straight-in visual approach to runway 09.  About 2 miles out he lowered 10 degrees flaps and established 80 knots airspeed.  About 1 mile out he lowered the flaps to 20 degrees maintaining 80 knots, and about 1/2 mile out he lowered the flaps to 30 degrees, established his speed between 70-80 knots, and then began the flare.  Upon touchdown of the nose wheel, a loud 'chattering' noise ensued along with an intense vibration.  The aircraft's nose wheel bounced twice on the pavement with the propeller making runway contact after the third bounce.  A 'zigzag' black scuff mark on the runway pavement slightly left of the centerline was observed, along with two gouges in the asphalt roughly perpendicular to the track of the scuff.  Post-crash examination of the damaged nose wheel fracture surfaces revealed evidence typical of overstress separation.  All the bearing components were covered with an abundant amount of a lubricant and exhibited no heat tinting.  No evidence of fatigue cracking was found in the fracture faces.

## Factual narrative

On July 21, 2000, approximately 1450 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182R, N101SP, registered to and operated by the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during the touchdown/landing roll at the John Day State airport, John Day, Oregon.  The pilot was uninjured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had been filed, but not activated.  The flight, which was a combined proficiency flight for the pilot and positioning flight for the aircraft, was being operated as a public use operation, and originated approximately 1345, at Redmond, Oregon.

The pilot was telephonically interviewed and reported that he arrived in the John Day area and set up for a straight-in visual approach to runway 09. He reported that about two miles out he lowered 10 degrees flaps and established 80 knots airspeed.  Approximately one mile out he lowered the flaps to 20 degrees maintaining 80 knots, and about one-half mile out he lowered the flaps to 30 degrees, established his speed between 70-80 knots, and then began to flare focusing on the upwind end of the runway (refer to DIAGRAM I, a transcription of a diagram provided by the pilot and the pilot's written narrative attached).  He reported that upon touchdown of the nose wheel, a loud "chattering" noise ensued along with an intense vibration.  The aircraft's nose wheel bounced twice on the pavement with the propeller making runway contact after the third bounce.

Post-landing examination by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed a "zigzag" black scuff mark on the runway pavement slightly left of the centerline.  Two gouges in the asphalt roughly perpendicular to the track of the scuff mark were observed near the beginning of the mark (refer to photograph 1).  Additionally, the nose wheel tire was observed to be flat and the nose wheel bearings were badly damaged.  The airframe and firewall were buckled and deformed, and the propeller tips were observed to be scuffed and bent aft (refer to photograph 2).

The nose wheel, fork assembly and recovered bearings were submitted to the Board's Materials Laboratory for metallurgical examination.  The metallurgical report stated in part, "All the bearing components were covered with an abundant amount of a lubricant and exhibited to heat tinting (indicating no evidence of heat damage).  The inner race in several areas for both halves of the rim contained marks from rollers.  The cage on each bearing assembly exhibited deformation damage."  Additionally, the report concluded stating "Bench binocular microscope examination of the fracture surfaces from the submitted pieces revealed features typical of overstress separation.  No evidence of fatigue cracking was found in the fracture faces" (refer to attached metallurgical report).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N101SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N101SP), registered now, S/N 18268562, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182R
- Registry model: [Cessna 182R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182r) (registry code 2072731) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18268562
- Airframe hours: 3675
- Engines: Continental O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Public use
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol (Oregon Wing)
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2000, 46 hours before
- Departed: RDM, REDMOND, OR
- Destination: 5J0
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 5J0, John Day State, runway 9, 3,436 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 230 total, 36 in this make and model, 178 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: 5J0

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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