# NTSB WPR20LA226: Boeing B75, N61445, Chino, CA, July 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 5, 2020, 11:24 local (18:24 UTC) - Place: Chino, CA - Coordinates: 33.976387, -117.63471 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9764&lon=-117.6347&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminsitration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101634 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101634/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101634 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA226 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Boeing B75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Boeing B75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1380116), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped biplane reported that, during a landing roll on runway 26R, the left wing “dipped” and that he applied right aileron to counteract. The pilot stated that the airplane began to turn to the right and that, despite the application of full left rudder, left brake, and a brief application of power, he was unable to correct the movement. The lower left wing subsequently struck the ground. The airplane then veered sharply to the right, exited the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed as the airplane came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was structurally damaged. The left rudder/tailwheel cable idler arm was found fractured. Examination of the two pieces of fractured left rudder/tailwheel cable idler arm revealed that the fracture progressed though the section due to a monotonic bending load. It’s likely that the fracture occurred during the pilot’s attempt to counteract the airplane’s movement to the right when directional control was lost. The airport’s automated weather observation station reported that, about 4 minutes after the accident, the wind was calm. However, the pilot reported that while on short final to the runway, the air traffic control tower controller reported wind was from 270° at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2020, about 1124 Pacific daylight time, a Boeing B75, N61445, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chino, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, during a landing roll on runway 26R, the left wing “dipped,” and he applied right aileron to counteract. The pilot stated that the airplane began to turn to the right, and despite the application of full left rudder, left brake, and a brief application of power, he was unable to correct the movement, and the lower left wing struck the ground. The airplane then veered sharply to the right and exited the runway. Subsequently, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was substantially damaged. The left rudder/tailwheel cable idler arm was found fractured. The idler arm was subsequently sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory for further examination. Examination of the two pieces of fractured left rudder/tailwheel cable idler arm revealed that the fracture progressed through the central pivot portion of the arm. The surface features, surface roughness, and presence of parting lines are consistent with sand-casting fabrication of the arm. The fracture surfaces were relatively flat, and the peripheral edges did not exhibit deformation associated with in-plane contraction, consistent with fracture through a material of relatively low fracture toughness. Along the exterior of the T portion, minor in-plane plastic deformation was observed and based on fractographic features, the fracture initiated at the ligament and progressed though the section due to a monotonic bending load, as depicted in figure 1. Figure 1: The left rudder/tailwheel cable idler arm fracture surfaces. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61445](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61445-2022-08-15), registration cancelled 2022-08-15, S/N 75-1335, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING B75 - Registry model: [Boeing B75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-b75) (registry code 1380116) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-1335 - Year built: 1941 - Airframe hours: 7840.9 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Museum - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 3, 2020, 50.6 hours before - Departed: CNO, Chino, CA - Airport: CNO, Chino Airport, runway 26R, 4,858 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,493 total, 359 in this make and model, 1,140 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KCNO - METAR: SPECI KCNO 051828Z 00000KT 10SM HZ CLR 34/06 A2993 RMK AO2 T03390056= ## 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 20200705008599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200705008599A), Jul 5, 2020: Boeing B75, Chino, CA, Substantial damage. On July 5, 2020 at 1124 PST time after a scenic flight over the coast with one passenger on board, N61445 veered off runway 26 after touch down at Chino… ## Other investigations on N61445 (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 GAA16CA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA249), May 20, 2016: Boeing B75 (N61445), El Cajon, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose over. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101634. 9.3 MB in all. - Materials laboratory factual report (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 6 photos, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13044206&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report%2021-001-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13043471&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13044919&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13044741&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.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.