CESSNA 402B

Opa-Locka, FL — September 10, 2012

Event Information

DateSeptember 10, 2012
Event TypeINC
NTSB NumberERA12IA559
Event ID20120911X40823
LocationOpa-Locka, FL
CountryUSA
Coordinates25.90750, -80.27805
AirportOpa-Locka Executive Airport
Highest InjuryNONE

Aircraft

MakeCESSNA
Model402B
CategoryAIR
FAR Part091
Aircraft DamageMINR

Conditions

Light ConditionDAYL
WeatherVMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
None3
Total Injured0

Event Location

Probable Cause

The pilot’s turning the airplane too sharply while exiting the runway, which resulted in the failure of the right main landing gear bellcrank due to an overstress fracture.

Full Narrative

On September 10, 2012, about 1650 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402B, N218LG, landed at Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF), Miami, Florida, and after clearing the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed. The airline transport-rated pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Waymen Aviation Services Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from OPF at 1600.

The pilot stated that, while turning left off of the active runway after landing, the airplane "began veering to the left," and the right main landing gear subsequently collapsed. The right main landing gear was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, and he confirmed the damage to the right main landing gear assembly.

The landing gear bellcrank was sent to the NTSB materials laboratory for examination. The bellcrank consisted of a long arm, approximately 7.5 inches long, and a short arm, approximately 2.1 inches long, with a 105-degree included angle between the two. The end of each arm was shaped in the form of a clevis. One of the clevis knuckles on the long bellcrank arm was fractured. The fracture surface had a rough appearance and was at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the clevis arm, consistent with an overstress fracture. No other anomalies were noted with the 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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