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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 18, 1994 · Cessna 402 · N402SW

Grand Canyon, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
October 18, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (9 uninjured)
Location
Grand Canyon, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 402
Tail Number
N402SW
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
LAX95IA011

THE AIRCRAFT LANDED GEAR UP AND VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY. A BELLCRANK IN THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SYSTEM WAS FOUND FRACTURED, JAMMING THE LANDING GEAR IN THE UP POSITION AFTER TAKEOFF. THE LAST MAINTENANCE INSPECTION OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM WAS A 200-HOUR INSPECTION ACCOMPLISHED ABOUT 71.1 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE THE INCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause

the fracture and failure of the left main landing gear bellcrank which jammed the landing gear in the retracted position.

Full Narrative

On October 17, 1994, at 1742 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 402, N402SW, landed gear up and veered off runway 3 at the Grand Canyon Airport, Grand Canyon, Arizona. The airplane was being operated as a sightseeing flight under 14 CFR Part 135 when the incident occurred. The airplane sustained minor damage. The certificated commercial pilot and eight passengers were not injured. One passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated in Las Vegas, Nevada, at 1500 hours. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, a bellcrank in the left main landing gear system fractured, jamming the landing gear in the up position. After getting a gear not safe indication, the pilot orbited the airport about 90 minutes to burn fuel before landing. During the landing roll, the airplane veered left and came to rest about 50 feet east of runway 3 at midfield. The last maintenance inspection of the landing gear system was a 200-hour inspection accomplished on September 20, 1994, about 71.1 flight hours before the accident. At the time of the inspection, there were no discrepancies noted with the bellcrank. An examination of the landing gear by the pilot during his preflight walk-around check of the airplane is a checklist item contained in the aircraft manual. Review of Service Difficulty Reports (SDRs) for Cessna 402A airplanes revealed two previous left main landing gear malfunctions as a result of broken bellcranks. The submitters of the two SDRs both recommended increasing the inspection criteria of the bellcrank. As a result of this incident, Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revised the operator's maintenance program by requiring the landing gear system be inspected every 50 hours of aircraft operation.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time17:42 MST
Nearest AirportGrand Canyon Nat'L Park (0nm)
Runway3
Runway Length8999 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 402
Tail NumberN402SW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520E · Reciprocating · 300
Seats10

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (9 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured9
Total9
Crew 1Age 23 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time00:41
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data