# NTSB WPR12LA262: Cessna 120, N1875N, Smith Valley, NV, June 8, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 2012, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Smith Valley, NV - Coordinates: 38.833332, -119.395553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8333&lon=-119.3956&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83962 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83962/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83962 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA262 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear strut due to corrosion-induced fatigue, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane bounced during the landing, and when it touched down again, it veered to the left. The pilot applied power to abort the landing, but the airplane continued off the left side of the runway surface into sagebrush. Postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear strut was transversely fractured through the upper attachment hole for the step bracket. Subsequent metallurgical examination revealed that the fracture surface was indicative of fatigue and originated in an area of corrosion. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2012, about 1015 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 120, N1875N, experienced a runway excursion during landing at Farias Wheel Airport (NV33), Smith Valley, Nevada. Valley View Flyers LLC was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country personal flight departed Yerington, Nevada, about 0955, with a planned destination of NV33. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that during landing the airplane bounced; when it touched down again, it suddenly veered to the left. He applied power to abort the landing, but the airplane continued left, and departed the runway surface into sagebrush. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing and the propeller contacted the ground. The pilot turned off the master switch, shut off the fuel, and exited the airplane. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage on site. He noted that the fracture surface of the right main landing gear was flat with beach marks. The part was submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory for examination. An NTSB metallurgist observed that the main landing gear strut was transversely fractured through the upper attachment hole for the step bracket. The upper fracture face was mechanically damaged, while the lower face was mostly undamaged. Optical examinations of the fractured face revealed chevron markings indicative of fracture initiation on both sides of the hole at the corners formed by the hole’s bore and the upper surface of the strut. Closer magnified examinations uncovered small fatigue cracks at both corners of the hole. The fatigue on the forward side of the hole initiated at three locations in a corrosion pitted area of the bore surface. The aft fatigue region initiated at a single origin at the corner in a corroded area. Corrosion was visible in unpainted areas. Removing the remnant paint from the bore revealed corrosion and corrosion pitting over the entire bore surface. The airplane was built in 1946, and had a total airframe time of 8,934 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1875N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1875N-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 12119, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 120 - Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12119 - Airframe hours: 4934 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Valley View Flyers LLC - Registered owner: Valley View Flyers LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2011 - Departed: 043, Yerrington, NV - Destination: NV33, Smith Valley, NV - Airport: NV33, Smith Valley, runway 16, 3,200 × 22 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 11, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 203 total, 18 in this make and model, 139 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KTVL ## 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 20120608012999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120608012999A), Jun 8, 2012: Cessna 120, Wellington, NV, Substantial damage. Upon touchdown runway 16 pilot lost control of the aircraft and veered to the left then departed the runway, the aircraft ground looped then right main landing… ## Other investigations on N1875N (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 MIA75FKG33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA75FKG33), Sep 23, 1974: Cessna 120 (N1875N), Dawson, GA, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83962. 3.3 MB in all. - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 12-073 (w 7 images) (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40371633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2012-073%20(w%207%20images)-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 473 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375043&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Chain of Custody Form (item 3, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375045&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Chain%20of%20Custody%20Form-Redacted.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.