Cessna 310P N5858M

Summary

On 14 September 2006 at about 19:00 local time, a Cessna 310P registered N5858M was involved in an accident near Kennett, Missouri, United States. 3 people were 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.

Date

14 September 2006 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kennett, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Kennett Memorial (TKX)

Coordinates

36.2267, -90.0367

Aircraft

Cessna 310P

Registration

N5858M

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shelby → Kennett

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI06LA262

Nobody was injured.

Separation of the left main landing gear torque link during landing resulting in a loss of control and runway excursion. Contributing factors were a failure to comply with the airframe manufacturer's service bulletin, and the pilot's inability to maintain directional control after the torque link separation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged when the left main landing gear torque links separated during landing. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway and came to rest approximately 1,250 feet from the approach end. A skid mark began about 400 feet from the end of the runway. The mark was left of the runway centerline and began as a straight skid mark. It then transitioned to a weaving or wavy pattern. The wavy pattern was approximately 60 feet long. Examination of the airframe revealed that the left main landing gear torque links had separated at the center hinge point and the wheel assembly was rotated 180 degrees. The washers installed under the bolt head at the pivot hinge did not conform to the washers specified by the airframe manufacturer's maintenance manual and service bulletin. The installed washer outside diameter measured approximately 0.560 inch. The through hole in the torque links measured 0.562 inch. Washers with an outside diameter of 0.750 inch were specified. The undersized washers allowed the bolt and bushing stack-up to pull through the upper torque link. The lower landing gear strut and wheel assembly were then free to rotate out of alignment with the upper strut. Review of the aircraft maintenance records revealed that new torque link shafts and bearings were installed on the left main landing gear assembly in August 2000, at 3,060 hours total airframe time. The most recent annual inspection was completed on February 14, 2006, at 3,316 hours total airframe time. An entry noting compliance with the service bulletin was not observed in the maintenance log.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.