Pilot Debrief

CESSNA U206F near Kodiak, AK — 2022-06-08

Final reportANC22LA040
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Date
2022-06-08
Location
Kodiak, AK, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA U206F
Registration
N592KB
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The failure of the right main landing gear leg due to fatigue cracks that initiated from corrosion pitting.

NTSB narrative

The airplane was the fourth air tour company airplane to land at a remote beach site as part of a bear viewing flight. The pilot set up for a landing on the same tracks as the three previous company airplanes. During the landing, the left main landing gear wheel touched down first, followed by the right main landing gear wheel. When the right wheel touched down, the pilot heard a “pop” sound and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane slowly came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and right horizontal stabilizer. Postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear leg was fractured near the wheel attachment fitting. Materials laboratory examination of the right main landing gear leg revealed that the gear leg fractured during landing due to fatigue cracks that initiated from localized corrosion pitting. The area of the fatigue cracks which was absent paint and primer, contained many elements typical of salt corrosion in a marine environment. Repeated abrasive wear from landings on rough terrain or runway asphalt had likely removed the protective coatings in the area of the fatigue cracks.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen a different landing site to avoid potential gear failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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