Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary NYC08LA009

Roxboro, NC, USA

Aircraft #1

N9910A

CESSNA 170A

Analysis

After the pilot made a "three-point landing," the right main wheel locked and caused a sudden right turn. The left wing lifted upward, came back down hard, and the airplane began to "hop" on the left main landing gear. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing and elevator struck the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies with either the airframe or engine. The pilot was involved in a previous accident 4 months prior, which he did not report to the National Transportation Safety Board. The previous accident also involved the collapse of the left main landing gear during landing.

Factual Information

On October 7, 2007, at 1130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170A, N9910A, was substantially damaged during landing at Person County Airport (TDF), Roxboro, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated at Johnston County Airport (JNX), Smithfield, North Carolina. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, after he made a "three-point landing," the airplane’s right main wheel locked and caused a sudden right turn. The left wing lifted upward, "came back down hard," and the airplane began to "hop" on the left main landing gear. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing and elevator struck the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and no interference with the flight control systems. According to FAA records, the pilot was involved in a previous accident on June 2, 2007, which he did not report to the National Transportation Safety Board. That accident also involved the collapse of the left main landing gear during landing. The pilot reported 297 hours of total flight experience, 28 hours of which were in make and model. He reported 1 hour of flight experience in the previous 90 days. Weather reported at TDF, at 1142, included calm winds, scattered clouds at 2,700 feet, 10 miles visibility, temperature 27 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 20 degrees C, and altimeter setting of 30.15 inches of mercury.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s loss of control during landing.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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