Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 170 near Mesa, AZ — 2023-01-23

Final reportWPR23LA096
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Date
2023-01-23
Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
Airport
KIWA
Aircraft
CESSNA 170
Registration
N9534A
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll out and the preexisting fatigue cracks in the left main landing gear leg, which resulted in the leg’s premature overstress fracture during the ground loop.

NTSB narrative

The pilot receiving instruction was conducting takeoffs and landings to regain tailwheel currency. During the second landing’s roll out, the airplane began to veer left of the runway centerline. The pilot applied correction with right rudder; however, he overcorrected and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot and the flight instructor both applied left rudder and brake to counteract the veer to the right. However, the veer to the right developed into a ground loop and the left main landing gear leg fractured. The airplane dropped onto the fractured end of the landing gear leg and came to rest upright. A metallurgical examination of the fractured landing gear leg revealed small fatigue cracks along the radius of the brake line retainer clip bore and outboard face. These small fatigue cracks concentrated stress in the radius, facilitating a premature overstress fracture due to the stresses on the part during the landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have conducted a go-around instead of continuing the landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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