CESSNA LC-126C

Lincoln, CA — June 30, 2009

Event Information

DateJune 30, 2009
Event TypeACC
NTSB NumberWPR09CA319
Event ID20090630X82522
LocationLincoln, CA
CountryUSA
Coordinates38.90083, -121.35139
AirportLincoln Regional Airport
Highest InjuryNONE

Aircraft

MakeCESSNA
ModelLC-126C
CategoryAIR
FAR Part091
Aircraft DamageSUBS

Conditions

Light ConditionDAYL
WeatherVMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
None4
Total Injured0

Event Location

Probable Cause

A fatigue crack in the left main landing gear strut resulting in the collapse of the strut during the landing roll.

Full Narrative

The pilot reported that when he entered the traffic pattern he observed the windsock indicating the wind was parallel to the runway. The pilot stated that during the landing the airplane "flared with no drift across the runway and touched down as normal." During the landing roll the left main landing gear collapsed and separated from the airplane, and the left wing impacted the ground. Despite the pilot's control inputs the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway coming to a rest adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage and left wing.

Post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left main landing gear, at the point of separation, contained fractures consistent with fatigue. The Safety Board issued Safety Recommendations A-01-001 and A-01-002 in March 2001, and the FAA issued an "Airworthiness Concern Sheet" in September 2007, both regarding landing gear fatigue on various Cessna airplane models with steel spring landing gear.

About This NTSB Record

This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

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