Pilot Debrief

Cessna U206 near Pedro Bay, AK — 2018-08-18

Final reportANC18LA067
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Date
2018-08-18
Location
Pedro Bay, AK, USA
Aircraft
Cessna U206
Registration
N441GR
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The fatigue fracture of both main landing gear legs during the landing roll, which resulted in the collapse and separation of both main landing gear legs.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, before landing on the tidal beach, he conducted two passes over the landing area to check for debris and determine wind direction. He stated that, after touchdown on the beach, the airplane felt like it had a flat tire and subsequently veered to the right. The airplane came to rest in a left-wing-low attitude on a tidal mudflat and sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator. The pilot examined the airplane and noted that both main landing gear legs had separated just above the main axle attach point. A laboratory examination revealed that both main landing gear legs failed due to fatigue cracking.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing after detecting tire issue.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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