Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 402C near San Juan, PR — 2010-07-27

Final reportERA10IA384
Sign in to save
Date
2010-07-27
Location
San Juan, PR, USA
Airport
SJU
Aircraft
CESSNA 402C
Registration
N402VN
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The airplane manufacturer’s inadequate inspection procedures, resulting in the undetected fatigue cracking of the right upper barrel and trunnion assembly.

NTSB narrative

Following the pilot’s brake application during the landing roll, an undetected fatigue crack that originated on the right upper barrel and trunnion assembly resulted in the separation of the lower portion of the landing gear. The airplane came to rest upright and the pilot and passenger successfully evacuated. A postincident inspection of the failed barrel revealed fatigue that originated on the outer surface and penetrated approximately 90 percent of the wall thickness. At the time of the incident, the operator had been performing visual inspections of the barrels looking for leaks due to cracking from the inside; the last visual inspection of the barrel was performed about 62 hours earlier. At the time of the incident, the manufacturer did not have a special inspection in place to detect fatigue cracks on the outer surface of the barrel, though there had been previous incidents and accidents in which the barrel of the upper barrel and trunnion assembly was documented to have failed due to undetected fatigue cracks that originated on the outer surface.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Inspection of the upper barrel and trunnion assembly was inadequate prior to failure.

NTSB coding

  • Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) · Landing-landing roll
  • Maintenance

Evidence available

  • 13 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents13

Related mishaps