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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

July 24, 1985 · Cessna 402B · N1554G

West Palm Beach, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
July 24, 1985
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
West Palm Beach, FL
Aircraft
Cessna 402B
Tail Number
N1554G
Operator
Chandelle Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
MIA85IA217

Aircraft experienced unsafe right main gear indication several days prior to the incident. Mechanics found a damaged micro switch mounting plate which they repaired enough to hold until a new plate could be ordered and installed. On day of incident pilot received unsafe right main gear indication and upon landing placed a side load on the gear to check it for security. At this time a loud bang was heard from the area of the right main gear and the gear began to collapse. A balked landing was performed and on the second attempt to land the right gear again began to collapse. The pilot flew the aircraft back to his departure point and on landing the right gear collapsed. Post crash inspection of the aircraft revealed the right gear over center brace had failed along with its mounting bolt. Metallurgical examination of the failed components revealed they failed due to overstress with no indications of previous cracks or presence of corrosion.

Full Narrative

AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED UNSAFE RIGHT MAIN GEAR INDICATION SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. MECHANICS FOUND A DAMAGED MICRO SWITCH MOUNTING PLATE WHICH THEY REPAIRED ENOUGH TO HOLD UNTIL A NEW PLATE COULD BE ORDERED AND INSTALLED. ON DAY OF INCIDENT PILOT RECEIVED UNSAFE RIGHT MAIN GEAR INDICATION AND UPON LANDING PLACED A SIDE LOAD ON THE GEAR TO CHECK IT FOR SECURITY. AT THIS TIME A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE AREA OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND THE GEAR BEGAN TO COLLAPSE. A BALKED LANDING WAS PERFORMED AND ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO LAND THE RIGHT GEAR AGAIN BEGAN TO COLLAPSE. THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO HIS DEPARTURE POINT AND ON LANDING THE RIGHT GEAR COLLAPSED. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE RIGHT GEAR OVER CENTER BRACE HAD FAILED ALONG WITH ITS MOUNTING BOL.T METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED COMPONENTS REVEALED THEY FAILED DUE TO OVERSTRESS WITH NO INDICATIONS OF PREVIOUS CRACKS OR PRESENCE OF CORROSION.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time19:14 EDT
Nearest AirportPalm Beach Internation (0nm N)
Runway13
Runway Length6930 ft
Runway Width19 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 402B
Tail NumberN1554G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorChandelle Aviation
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TS10520E · Reciprocating · 300
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 3 kt
Visibility8 sm
CeilingOvercast 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:21
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data