Cessna A185F N135NC
9 April 1992 · Billings, Montana, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 9 April 1992 at about 21:55 local time, a Cessna A185F registered N135NC, operated by Smith, Vern G., was involved in an accident near Billings, Montana, United States. One person was 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.
The record
- Date
- at 21:55
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Billings, Montana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Billings (BIL)
- Coordinates
- 45.9794, -108.6807
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F
- Registration
- N135NC
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Smith, Vern G.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Mobridge → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA92LA071
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
A WORN TAILWHEEL STEERING SYSTEM AND INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE LANDING THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE WITH A DIRECT X-WIND FROM THE RIGHT, THE AIRPLANE SWERVED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAILWHEEL WOULD FREELY SWIVEL TO THE RIGHT RESULTING IN NO STEERING TO THE LEFT. THIS FREE CASTERING WAS CAUSED BY WEAR ON ONE SIDE OF THE LATCH SPRING, AND CORRESPONDING WEAR IN THE SPRING NOTCH IN THE STEERING ARM ASSEMBLY. THE RUDDER STILL HAD FULL TRAVEL AVAILABLE BOTH TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna A185F accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 May 1992 | Cessna A185F | Spray, Oregon, United States | John L. Hirons | No injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1992 | Cessna A185F | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | R & M Consultants, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 1992 | Cessna A185F | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | Edwin E. Johnson | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1992 | Cessna A185F | Maxton, North Carolina, United States | Cunningham, Michael K | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1992 | Cessna A185F | Amelia, Louisiana, United States | C. Hammon's Flying Service Inc | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 1992 | Cessna A185F | Ronan, Montana, United States | Mikkelsen, Alan & Lynette | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1992 | Swearingen SA-226TC | Billings, Montana, United States | Big Sky Transportation Co | No injuries | - |
| 20 May 1992 | Schweizer SGS-1-35C | Big Timber, Montana, United States | Ridge Runners Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 14 May 1992 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Kalispell, Montana, United States | Morgan Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 29 Dec 1992 | Aero Commander AC-500B | Billings, Montana, United States | Corporate Air | No injuries | - |
| 16 May 1992 | E E Shilling Q-2 | Billings, Montana, United States | Michael R. Moore | No injuries | - |
| 29 May 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Monarch, Montana, United States | Chamberlain, Dwight N. | Minor injuries | - |