# NTSB SEA94LA058: Cessna 402C, N2718Y, Billings, MT, February 7, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 6, 1994, 18:53 local (Feb 7, 1994, 01:53 UTC) - Place: Billings, MT - Location: 45.8078° N, 108.5435° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BILLINGS LOGAN INTL (BIL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8078&lon=-108.5435&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41874 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41874/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA058 ## Probable cause THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR FROZE. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear assembly - frozen (cause) - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor) ## Analysis AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR AND NOTED THAT THE MAIN GEAR LIGHTS WENT OUT BUT THE GEAR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE PILOT CYCLED THE GEAR WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THE PILOT SELECTED THE GEAR DOWN AND RETURNED FOR LANDING WITH A THREE GREEN INDICATION. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC STATED THAT DUE TO THE EXTREME LOW TEMP CONDITIONS THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR MAY HAVE FROZEN AND DID NOT ALLOW THE NOSE GEAR TO COMPLETE A FULL RANGE OF TRAVEL TO THE UP LOCK OR DOWN LOCK. ## Factual narrative On February 6, 1994, at 1853 mountain standard time, a Cessna 402C, N2718Y, operating as Big Sky Flight 138, collapsed its nose gear on landing at Billings, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR 135. The airplane was substantially damaged and the two certificated airline transport pilots and the three passengers were not injured. The operator reported that the flight had taken off from Billings at 1835 and was en route to Miles City, Montana, on the scheduled commuter flight. The crew retracted the landing gear at approximately 500 feet and noted the "in transit" light illuminated for the three landing gear. The lights for the main gear went out as normal, however, the nose gear light remained illuminated. The flight crew extended the gear and a three green indication was noted. According to the flight crew statements, they recycled the gear twice with the same indications as before. The crew extended the landing gear and returned for landing at Billings with a three green indication for landing. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed. After the airplane was removed from the runway and secured in a hanger, a mechanic inspected the landing gear and reported that the nose gear was not in the down and locked position. The landing gear was then cycled and a down and locked position was noted. The mechanic reported that there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. At the time of the accident, the weather was reported from Billings to be -5 degrees and light snow. The mechanic stated that the nose gear actuator may have froze and did not allow the nose gear to complete a full range of travel to the up lock or down lock position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2718Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2718Y), registered now, S/N 402C0232, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 402C - Registry model: [Cessna 402C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402c) (registry code 207590R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402C0232 - Airframe hours: 20316 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Big Sky Transportation, doing business as Big Sky Airlines - Registered owner: Bse Aircraft Equipment Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 4, 1994, 24 hours before - Destination: MLS, MILES CITY, MT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BIL, Billings, runway 10L, 10,528 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 151 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 60° at 13 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft overcast - Temperature: -6 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BIL ## 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 19940206000599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940206000599A), Feb 6, 1994: Cessna 402C, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. Unsafe nose gear on takeoff climb. Returned with 3 greens for landing. Nose gear collapsed. Actuator may have froze 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.