Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 414 near Jasper, GA — 2022-06-18

Final reportERA22LA282
Sign in to save
Date
2022-06-18
Location
Jasper, GA, USA
Airport
JZP
Aircraft
CESSNA 414
Registration
N414HF
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The failure of the owner to comply with a service bulletin, which resulted in the failure of the left main landing gear torque tube due to fatigue cracking.

NTSB narrative

After touchdown on the runway, the airplane’s left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded to the left, departed the runway surface, and struck a taxiway sign. The left wing was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination revealed that the left main landing gear torque tube had fractured, which resulted in the gear collapse. Further examination of the torque tube revealed that it failed from fatigue cracks that originated in multiple locations. A service bulletin issued by the airplane’s manufacturer required replacement of the torque tube at 4,000 hours time in service to prevent fatigue failure of the torque tube; however, the airplane had accrued about 5,000 hours total time, and the tube was original to the airplane. While compliance with the service bulletin was not mandatory, replacement of torque tube would have likely prevented the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Failure to replace the original torque tube as recommended by the service bulletin.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

Related mishaps