Cessna 421C N513FS

Summary

On 24 April 2008 at about 23:10 local time, a Cessna 421C registered N513FS was involved in an accident near Sterling, Colorado, 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

24 April 2008 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Sterling, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Sterling (STK)

Coordinates

40.6092, -103.2589

Aircraft

Cessna 421C

Registration

N513FS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colorado Spring → Sterling

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW08LA115

Nobody was injured.

Failure and separation of the upper and lower right main gear torque links links, which resulted in a loss of directional control on landing roll-out.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the landing roll-out, the airline transport pilot said a 50-knot gust of wind hit the twin-engine airplane from the right side. The airplane weathervaned into the wind, at which time he applied full left rudder to compensate. The pilot tried to maintain control of the airplane as it skipped off the right side of the runway onto the grass. Subsequently, the left main gear collapsed due to the side load and the airplane came to an immediate stop. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear had collapsed, the left main gear had separated from the airframe; the right main landing gear remained attached to the airframe, but the upper and lower torque links had separated, and the wheel was rotated to the right. Further examination of the upper and lower link assemblies securing bolt, bushing, two AN washers, castellated nut, and cotter pin, revealed it had pulled through the lower torque link boss, which allowed the main wheel, brake, and strut assembly to rotate inside the strut housing. In addition, both propellers were damaged and the left wing sustained substantial damage. The airplane was last inspected on March 13, 2008, at which time, the main gear camber and toe was adjusted. The failure occurred approximately 39.1 hours after this last inspection. On November 23, 1983, Cessna issued Service Kit SK 421-118, which called for the replacement of washers and for inspection of the main gear torque links. The Service Kit specified washer P/N 504518-2 to be installed under the bolt head and nut, with replacement washer P/N S1450-5H12-063 to be incorporated into the next revision to the Service Kit. Cessna issued a Service Information Letter in conjunction with the Service Kit for the purpose of "improved service life and main gear alignment retention." The washers listed in the Service Kit were not installed on the accident airplane. Compliance with the Service Kit and Service Information Letter is not mandatory.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.