# NTSB SEA03LA001: Curtiss-Wright Travel Air 4000, N4949, Tillamook, OR, October 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 2002, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Tillamook, OR - Coordinates: 45.413887, -123.812225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4139&lon=-123.8122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Hillsboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55842 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55842/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA001 ## Probable cause The fracture of the weld joining the left main wheel strut to the left/right main wheel axel resulting in separation of the strut from the axle during an unknown phase of operation which ultimately lead to the left gear collapse and subsequent nose-over on landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Main gear collapsed, landing - miscellaneous,bolt/nut/fastener/clamp/spring - fractured (cause) - landing gear,axle - separation - landing gear,main gear strut - separation - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot preflighted the 1928 Curtiss Wright Travel Air 4000 and departed with two passengers on a short, local sightseeing flight. Upon landing the aircraft veered left off the runway nosing over and coming to rest inverted in the grass. Post crash examination revealed that the original weld between the left-right main wheel axle and the left wheel "V" strut had fractured allowing the left strut and wheel axel to separate and the left wheel to subsequently collapse/shift during the landing roll. Although company personnel on the ground observed the aircraft prior to landing and noted the left main gear "hanging down" they were unable to contact the pilot by radio and the pilot's view of the main wheels was obstructed in flight. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2002, approximately 1345 Pacific daylight time, a Curtiss Wright Travel Air 4000, N4949, registered to and being flown by a commercial pilot, and operated by Tillamook Air Tours, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll when the aircraft's left main gear collapsed and the aircraft nosed over at the Tillamook airport, Tillamook, Oregon. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured. The pilot reported the weather conditions as "calm and cool" and no flight plan had been filed. The 14 CFR 91 sightseeing flight originated from the Tillamook airport approximately 1300. The pilot reported that he preflighted the aircraft and then departed Tillamook airport on a 45-minute local sightseeing flight with two passengers. Upon landing on runway 31 the pilot noted the aircraft began pulling left and he heard a "thumping" sound. The aircraft departed the west side of the runway rolling into a grassy area and then nosed over (refer to photograph 1). The pilot also reported that company personnel on the ground at Tillamook airport observed the aircraft prior to landing and noted the left main gear "hanging down" but were unable to contact the pilot by radio. The pilot reported that the wheels are not visible from the rear cockpit in flight. Two inspectors assigned to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Hillsboro, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office conducted post-accident inspection of the aircraft. The examination revealed that the weld between the left-right main wheel axle and the left wheel "V" strut had fractured (refer to photograph 2). The FAA inspectors interviewed the individual who restored the 1928 vintage aircraft and determined that the wheel axle to gear strut welds (left and right) were original welds and had not been replaced or altered during the restoration process. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4949](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4949-2010-07-15), registration cancelled 2010-07-15, S/N 447, built 1928 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Curtiss-Wright Travel Air 4000 - Registry model: [Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000](https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-travel-air-4000) (registry code 2621802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R680E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680e-series) (registry code 41545, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 447 - Airframe hours: 2850 - Engines: Lycoming R680 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Tillamook Air Tours - Registered owner: Stoffel, Larry L. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 2002, 98 hours before - Departed: S47, Tillamook, OR - Destination: S47 - Airport: S47, Tillamook, runway 31, 4,990 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 20, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 8,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: MMV, 30 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 20021005028319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021005028319A), Oct 5, 2002: Curtis TRVAIR4000, Tillamook, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) Actual registration number is NC4949. During the takeoff roll the "v" brace on the left main landing gear broke. The PIC was unaware of this problem,… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.