Accident Cessna 421C N71RC,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 230929
 
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Date:Friday 6 January 2017
Time:17:20
Type:Silhouette image of generic C421 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Cessna 421C
Owner/operator:Private
Registration: N71RC
MSN: 421C0423
Year of manufacture:1977
Total airframe hrs:2929 hours
Engine model:Lycoming LTP 101-600
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Jackson, CA -   United States of America
Phase: Landing
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Palo Alto, CA (PAO)
Destination airport:Jackson, CA (JAQ)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The airline transport pilot reported that, during the landing roll at the end of a crosscountry flight, when he attempted to lightly apply the brakes, the airplane began to yaw from side to side. The airplane subsequently exited the right side of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. During the landing, the right main landing gear collapsed. An on-site examination revealed that the right main landing gear torque link assembly had separated at the hinge attach point due to the failure of the torque link bolt. Although the bolt was located at the accident site, the bolt's nut, cotter pin, and washer were missing. Further examination revealed that the torque link bolt threads had been rounded over and exhibited remnants of material consistent with the threads of the mating nut. In addition, remnants of the cotter pin that was installed through the bolt hole were visible. The sheared cotter pin and threads from the nut that remained within the bolt threads suggest that the torque link bolt/nut assembly was overloaded, which resulted in the landing gear collapse.
A Federal Aviation Administration special airworthiness information bulletin had been issued about 3 years before the accident to advise owners, operators, and maintenance technicians of the make and model airplane of the need to inspect the main landing gear torque link assembly to ensure the correct thickness of washers and to ensure that the washers are installed properly, and a Cessna service bulletin had also been issued previously regarding the washers. However, no maintenance records were available to determine the airplane's maintenance history or compliance with the applicable bulletins.


Probable Cause: The failure of the right main landing gear torque link bolt in overstress, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear during the landing roll.



Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: WPR17LA051
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 2 years and 10 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
27-Nov-2019 07:16 ASN Update Bot Added

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