Cessna 402C N108GP

Summary

On 3 March 2001 at about 19:52 local time, a Cessna 402C registered N108GP, operated by Safe Air International, Inc., was involved in an incident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. 9 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

3 March 2001 at 19:52

Classification

Incident

Location

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Intl (FLL)

Coordinates

26.0728, -80.1528

Aircraft

Cessna 402C

Registration

N108GP

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Safe Air International, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marsh Harbor → Fort Lauderdale

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01IA091

Nobody was injured.

Incomplete compliance with a non-mandatory Cessna Service Information Letter by an unknown person resulting in pulling through of the attach bolt of the upper and lower link assemblies and subsequent rotation of the right wheel assembly. Additionally, improper overhaul of the right main landing gear actuator by an unknown person resulting in collapse of the right main landing gear. Findings in the investigation were: 1) Inadequate compliance with a Cessna Service Bulletin (SB) by company maintenance personnel for failure to replace the actuator as addressed in the SB due to a discrepancy with the actuator noted during the post incident testing, and 2) Failure of the FAA to include inspection of the main landing gear torque links in the FAA approved inspection program as described in the Cessna Progressive Care Program.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the approach to runway 27L with the wind from the southwest at 15 knots and no gusts, he confirmed that all gears were down and locked as evidenced by the down and locked lights. He reported landing first on the left main landing gear followed by the right main then nose gear. During the landing roll while almost stopped, "I felt like a blown tire, right wheel zig zag and suddenly I could not control turn to the right and landing gear collapse." The airplane came to rest upright; scrubbing was noted on the lower inboard portion of the right main landing gear tire and the right main landing gear wheel assembly was rotated nearly 90 degrees. Additionally, the upper and lower link assemblies of the right main landing gear were separated from each other; the attach hardware for them remained in the upper link assembly. Post incident examination of the airplane revealed that the bolt that secures the upper and lower link assemblies pulled through the lower link assembly on the nut end. Two washers on the nut end with a thickness of approximately .023 inch were damaged during the pull-through. A washer with a thickness of approximately .061 was installed under the bolt head. A non-mandatory Cessna Service Information Letter indicates to install .066 inch thick washers on the head and nut end of the bolt that secures the upper and lower link assemblies. There was no record in the maintenance records that the non-mandatory service information letter was complied with. Post incident testing of the right main landing gear actuator revealed that the unlocking pressure was too high and one of the four lock keys was improperly installed. Testing of the right main landing gear actuator for unlock pressure was performed by the operator approximately 2 months before the incident in accordance with a service bulletin (SB). The SB states to replace the actuator if the unlocking pressure is not in specification; the actuator was not replaced. There was no serviceable tag in the maintenance records and no determination was made indicating when or what facility overhauled the actuator. The FAA approved inspection program for the operator does not list to inspect the main landing gear link assemblies as does the Cessna Progressive Care Program.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.