# NTSB WPR15LA042: Cessna U206G, N9420R, La Verne, CA, November 15, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 15, 2014, 14:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: La Verne, CA - Coordinates: 34.091667, -117.781669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0917&lon=-117.7817&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 6, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Textron Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 90392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90392/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90392 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA042 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll for reasons that could not be determined, because postaccident examination of the nosewheel assembly revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that, during landing, he had difficulty controlling the airplane after the nosewheel settled onto the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane initially veered to the left; however, he was able to correct its track. The airplane then veered left a second time, he was unable to regain control, and the airplane subsequently exited the runway surface. During the accident sequence, the right wing struck the ground. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a deflated nosewheel oleo strut; however, the investigation was unable to determine whether the strut became deflated before or during the accident sequence. The airplane displayed proper nosewheel steering when weight was applied on the nosewheel strut. No further anomalies were noted with the airplane's nosewheel steering, nosewheel assembly, braking system, or tires; thus, the reason for the loss of control could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 2014, about 1420 Pacific standard time, a Cessna U206G, N9420R, veered off the runway during landing at Brackett Field Airport (POC), La Verne, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Civil Air Patrol under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing during the accident sequence. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The instructional flight departed from San Gabriel Valley Airport, El Monte, California, about 1350. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in- charge (IIC), the pilot stated that he had difficulties controlling the airplane after the nose wheel settled onto the runway, during the landing roll. The pilot further stated that the airplane initially veered to the left; however, he was able to initially counteract the deviation and the airplane was then positioned near the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane veered left a second time, and he was unable to prevent it from exiting the runway surface, where the right wing struck the ground. The two passengers onboard the airplane stated that the landing was normal and shortly thereafter the pilot lost directional control of the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane with a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic under the supervision of the NTSB IIC, revealed that the right wing was bent upwards about 3 feet from the wing tip. The airplane's braking continuity from the rudder pedals to the brakes was established with no anomalies. Examination of the nose tire, main tires, and braking assemblies revealed no anomalies. The nose gear assembly was examined and the nose oleo strut was observed to be deflated. However, with weight on the nose wheel, provided by lifting up on the airplane's tail, the nose wheel responded appropriately to pedal steering. The investigation was unable to determine if the deflated strut was due to impact damage or a malfunction. No additional mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane's nose wheel steering system links the rudder pedals to the nose wheel. According to the airplane's Pilot's Operating Manual, "when a rudder pedal is depressed a spring-loaded bungee will turn the nose wheel ... approximately 15 degrees each side of center." By applying either left or right brake, the degree of turn can be increased up to 35 degrees each side of center. According to the aircraft manufacturer representative, "a steerable nose wheel, mounted in a fork, attached to an air/oil (oleo) shock strut, makes up the nose gear. Nose wheel steering is accomplished through the use of the rudder pedals. A hydraulic fluid-filled shimmy dampener is provided to minimize nose wheel shimmy. The nose wheel steering system links therudder pedals to the nose wheel steering arm, affording steering control through the use of the rudder pedals and brakes. Torque links keep the lower strut aligned with the nose gear steering system, but permit shock strut action. A properly serviced nose gear oleo will fully extend, when the nose wheel is lifted off the ground. A centering stop log is located on the upper torque link. When the nose gear oleo fully extends, the centering stop lug interfaces with a cutout near the top of the oleo to prevent the nose gear from moving when the rudder pedals are actuated. When the nose gear oleo is compressed the centering stop lug is removed from the cutout allowing the nose tire to move in response to rudder pedal input." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9420R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9420R), registered now, S/N U20606860, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA U206G (G) - Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20606860 - Year built: 1987 - Airframe hours: 1625.9 - Engines: Continental IO520F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Civil Air Patrol Inc - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2014 - Departed: EMT, EL MONTE, CA - Destination: POC, La Verne, CA - Airport: POC, Brackett Field, runway 26L, 4,840 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 860 total, 6 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: POC ## 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 20141115022869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141115022869A), Nov 15, 2014: Cessna U206G, La Verne, CA, Substantial damage. A Cessna 206, N9420R, owned by civil air patrol was landing runway 26L when it suddenly veered left ans exited the runway into the infield between… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90392. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458907&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448227&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Cadet) (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448228&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Cadet)-Master.PDF - Airframe Examination Report (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 488 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Examination%20Report-Master.PDF - Airplane POH References (item 5, .PDF, 331 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20POH%20References-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 7, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.