# NTSB WPR10CA011: Cessna 180, N1674C, Pistol Creek, ID, October 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 8, 2009, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Pistol Creek, ID - Coordinates: 45.471111, -115.391387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4711&lon=-115.3914&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Boise FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74882/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74882 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA011 ## Probable cause The separation of one of the airplane's main landing gear legs during landing in variable gusting wind conditions, due to the nut being stripped from the attachment bolt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing at a remote dirt/grass airstrip where the winds were gusting and variable in direction. Although the touchdown was normal, as he made rudder and brake inputs to maintain directional control, the right main gear leg separated from its mounting structure, and the right wing sustained substantial damage when it contacted the terrain. An inspection of the gear leg attachment hardware determined that the nut on the gear leg attachment bolt had been stripped from the bolt, thus allowing the bolt to come out of the attachment structure. During the pilot's initial contact with the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge, the pilot stated that the airplane's right brake had failed during the landing roll, but in a follow-up interview the pilot stated that he believes that the brake was working fine until the moment the gear leg separated from its mount. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing at a remote dirt/grass airstrip where the winds were gusting and variable in direction. Although the touchdown was normal, as he made rudder and brake inputs to maintain directional control, the right main gear leg separated from its mounting structure, and the right wing sustained substantial damage when it contacted the terrain. An inspection of the gear leg attachment hardware determined that the nut on the gear leg attachment bolt had been stripped from the bolt, thus allowing the bolt to come out of the attachment structure. During the pilot's initial contact with the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge, the pilot stated that the airplane's right brake had failed during the landing roll, but in a follow-up interview the pilot stated that he believes that the brake was working fine until the moment the gear leg separated from its mount. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1674C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1674C), registered now, S/N 30374, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30374 - Airframe hours: 3295 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Maslen Holbrook - Registered owner: Maslen Holbrook - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2009 - Departed: NONE, Emmett, ID - Destination: NONE, Pistol Creek, ID - Airport: NONE, Pistol Creek, runway 23, 2,200 × 50 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 19, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 25,115 total, 1,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## Other investigations on N1674C (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA79FTA16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA79FTA16), Jul 8, 1979: Cessna 180 (N1674C), Landusky, MT, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74882. 681 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF 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.