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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

June 24, 2004 · Cessna 185F · N4585F

Bozeman, MT

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 24, 2004
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Bozeman, MT
Aircraft
Cessna 185F
Tail Number
N4585F
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA04LA117

During the landing roll, the pilot was applying heavy braking in order to turn off the runway at taxiway Echo, when the aircraft suddenly and rapidly ground-looped to the left. An initial post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the right main gear brake rotor assembly had torn lose from the wheel itself, rendering the right wheel brake totally inoperative. The wheel hub and brake disk assembly were shipped to the NTSB Materials Laboratory, where it was determined that the brake disk attachment flange failed in fatigue in the bend around the attachment flange. The brake disk showed a substantial amount of general corrosion, and although the attachment flange met the minimum thickness requirements, most of its surface was covered by corrosion and corrosion pitting. The fatigue crack propagation that eventually lead to the failure had originated in one of these corrosion pits.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the right main gear brake disk attach flange during the landing roll, due to fatigue cracks emanating from numerous corrosion pits present on the surface of the disk, leading to the right brake becoming totally inoperative, and resulting in a rapid inadvertent ground-loop. Factors include hard braking applied by the pilot in order to turn off the active runway at an early taxiway, and considerable corrosion on the surface of the brake disk flange.

Full Narrative

On June 24, 2004, approximately 1510 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 185F, N4585F, ground-looped during the landing roll at Gallatin Field, Bozeman, Montana. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed from an unknown location, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, during the landing roll he was applying normal heavy braking in order to turn off the runway at taxiway Echo, when the aircraft suddenly and rapidly ground-looped to the left. An initial post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the right main gear brake rotor assembly had torn lose from the wheel itself, rendering the right wheel brake totally inoperative. The wheel hub and brake disk assembly were shipped to the NTSB Materials Laboratory, where it was determined that the brake disk attachment flange failed in fatigue in the bend around the attachment flange. The brake disk showed a substantial amount of general corrosion, and although the attachment flange met the minimum thickness requirements, most of its surface was covered by corrosion and corrosion pitting. The fatigue crack propagation that eventually lead to the failure had originated in one of these corrosion pits. The pilot did not return a completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, so the total flight time information for this report was taken from data recorded on his last FAA medical examination.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:10 MDT
Nearest AirportGallatin Field (0nm)
Runway30
Runway Length9003 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 185F
Tail NumberN4585F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 58 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data