Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 414 near Hammonton, NJ — 2013-04-05

Final reportERA13LA191
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Date
2013-04-05
Location
Hammonton, NJ, USA
Airport
N81
Aircraft
CESSNA 414
Registration
N37480
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

A loss of control during landing due to the failure of the nose landing gear's left trunnion lug.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during a repositioning flight, he lowered the landing gear during the approach and confirmed that it was extended by observing the landing gear position indicator lights. Immediately after touchdown, the airplane veered left. The pilot applied full right rudder, but the airplane continued veering left and departed the left side of the runway. The airplane struck several trees and was subsequently engulfed in a postcrash fire. A postaccident examination revealed that the nose landing gear had separated from its mount at the left trunnion. Fractographic examination revealed a pre-existing crack at the surface of the left trunnion lug. Subsequent investigation revealed that the fractured part was a used part recently taken from another airplane that had over 20,000 service hours. The crack at the surface of the trunnion lug could not have been seen during a visual inspection of the trunnion assembly before its installation because such cracks can only be identified by eddy current inspections. Multiengine Service Bulletin MEB88-5 requires the trunnion assembly to be subjected to eddy current inspection and, if cracks are identified during this inspection, the trunnion assembly must be replaced; however, the inspection requirements are not applicable to Part 91 operators.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Proper inspection of the nose gear trunnion assembly before installation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents12

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