Cessna 421C N26533

Summary

On 5 March 2003 at about 06:45 local time, a Cessna 421C registered N26533 was involved in an accident near Crescent City, California, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 March 2003 at 06:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Crescent City, California, United States

Nearest airport

Crescent City (CEC)

Coordinates

41.7803, -124.2364

Aircraft

Cessna 421C

Registration

N26533

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Medford → Crescent City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

LAX03LA106

Nobody was injured.

The separation of the upper and lower right main landing gear scissor links due to improper maintenance, which resulted in a ground loop, and the collapse of the right main landing gear during the landing roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The right main landing gear scissors separated during the landing roll, resulting in a ground loop and the collapse of the right main landing gear. Post accident examination of the right landing gear scissors assembly revealed that a hinge bolt assembly had failed. Recent maintenance had reportedly been performed on both main landing gears. A Cessna Service Information Letter, ME83-37, dated November 23, 1983, recommended main landing gear scissor washer replacement for airplanes with serial numbers that included the accident airplane. The Service Letter recommended replacement of the two outer washers on the main landing gear scissor link for improved service life, and main gear wheel alignment retension. The Service Letter called for the installation of a new AN175-20 scissor bolt, and one 5045018-2 washer under the head of the bolt for each main landing gear scissors. Post accident examination of the scissor assembly revealed two damaged washers under the head of the scissors bolt, with diameters only slightly larger than the extreme hex points of the bolt head. The two washers were significantly smaller than the recommended washers, and were extruded, or bent towards, the scissor bolt head, which allowed the upper and lower scissor assembly to disconnect.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.