Cessna 550 N37MH

Summary

On 25 March 1999 at about 20:45 local time, a Cessna 550 registered N37MH was involved in an incident near State College, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 March 1999 at 20:45

Classification

Incident

Location

State College, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

University Park (UNV)

Coordinates

40.7899, -77.8505

Aircraft

Cessna 550

Registration

N37MH

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pittsburgh → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC99IA079

Nobody was injured.

Improper assembly of the left main landing gear (LMLG) actuator by the airplane manufacturer, which resulted in an incorrect 'locked' indication on the LMLG switch, and the subsequent collapse of the LMLG during taxi.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

When the airplane's left main gear actuator was removed for overhaul, a temporary replacement, provided by the airplane manufacturer, was installed. While taxing after landing, the airplane's left main landing gear collapsed. Disassembly of the actuator revealed the lock ring was installed upside-down. A radiograph view of taken of the lock piston and the ball bearing which operated the lock switch revealed the ball bearing was resting only 1/2 up the ramp on the lock piston; however, the downlock switch was found to indicate locked. Review of the actuator's maintenance records revealed it was repaired by the Cessna Wichita Citation Service Center, Wichita, Kansas, on February 7, 1999. During the repair, the actuator was dissembled and reassembled.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.