# NTSB SEA97LA167: Cessna 140, N4275N, Arlington, WA, July 12, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1997, 09:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, WA
- Coordinates: 48.179439, -121.669204 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1794&lon=-121.6692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42656
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42656/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA167

## Probable cause

Failure of the right-main landing gear axle after landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll
  - landing gear,axle - failure (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The tailwheel equipped airplane incurred substantial damage during a nose-over on the landing roll following the separation of the right-main wheel from its associated strut. The pilot reported that he touched down on his main wheels on the sod runway, bounced once, then 'seemed to settle into a normal run-out'. The pilot stated that 'a second or two later' he felt a heavy yaw to the right as the right landing gear dug into the turf. The landing-gear axle was found to have failed.  The landing-gear strut dug into the turf, causing the aircraft to nose over.

## Factual narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On Saturday, July 12, 1997, approximately 0950 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 140, N4275N, registered to and being flown by a private pilot, incurred substantial damage during a nose-over on the landing roll following the separation of the right-main wheel from its associated strut. The accident occurred at the Arlington Municipal airport, Arlington, Washington, and the pilot and passenger were uninjured. No flight plan had been filed and visual meteorological conditions existed at the time. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Snohomish, Washington, approximately 0920.

The pilot reported that he arrived in the Arlington airport area and contacted the temporary control tower for instructions. The Arlington airport was hosting the annual Northwest Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in and there was considerable air traffic around the airport at the time. The pilot was given authorization to land on a "grass strip" being used as an alternate landing site adjacent to runway 34.

The pilot stated that while he was on short final approach, he noticed "several orange cones around some red plastic strips" at the approach end of the grass strip. The cones and strips represented a "X" to indicate that the glider strip was closed to powered aircraft due to fly-in activities. The pilot reported that he touched down on his main wheels, bounced once, then "seemed to settle into a normal run-out". The pilot stated that "a second or two later" he felt a heavy yaw to the right as the right landing gear dug into the turf. The landing-gear axle sheared off and the landing-gear strut dug into the turf, causing the aircraft to nose over.

According to the FAA representative on site, a different grass strip was intended for use during the fly-in.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4275N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4275N-2013-10-23), registration cancelled 2013-10-23, S/N 13746, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 140
- Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 13746
- Airframe hours: 6224
- Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Conover, Mark, A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1997, 40 hours before
- Departed: S43, SNOHOMISH, WA
- Destination: AWO
- Airport: AWO, Arlington Municipal, runway 34, 2,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 364 total, 263 in this make and model, 332 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

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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