Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 182E near Eugene, OR — 2021-07-31

Final reportWPR21LA344
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Date
2021-07-31
Location
Eugene, OR, USA
Airport
EUG
Aircraft
CESSNA 182E
Registration
N3186Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

Loss of directional control due to damage to the nosewheel strut that was sustained during a previous landing.

NTSB narrative

As the airplane’s nosewheel touched the ground, the airplane veered aggressively to the right then left. The pilot applied corrective control inputs, but the airplane departed the runway, tipped onto the left wing, and spun around. The airplane’s nosewheel had been modified in accordance with a supplemental type certificate, which raised the nose of the airplane by 4 inches. The modified geometry resulted in the airplane being more susceptible to control difficulties during landing, unless a soft field landing technique was used. The pilot stated that the landing was normal, and there was no damage to the runway surface at the touchdown point to suggest otherwise. However, he stated that the airplane swerved aggressively on the previous landing earlier in the day during high gusting wind conditions. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies with the steering system; however, there was damage to the firewall and nosewheel strut that indicated the nosewheel had struck the ground hard. Based on the pilot’s report that the airplane swerved aggressively during a landing earlier in the day, it is likely that the airplane was damaged during that landing, which caused the loss of control during the accident landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not maintain a nose high attitude during landing as recommended.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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