1989-05-10: Cessna C-402 — Wilburs Incorporated — Tatitlek, AK

Casualties unknown • Tatitlek, AK, US

Probable cause

INSTALLATION OF THE IMPROPER WASHER ON THE SCISSORS ASSEMBLY OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE EXTRA FORCES ENCOUNTEREDON A GRAVEL RUNWAY WERE SUFFICIENT TO PULL THE BUSHING, WASHER, AND BOLT THROUGH THE SCISSORS ASSEMBLY AND ALLOWING THE LOWER HALF TO PIVOT FREELY.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TOUCHED DOWN ON THE GRAVEL RUNWAY AND BEGAN TO APPLY BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT RELEASED THE BRAKES AND USED ASYMMETRIC POWER AND BRAKING, BUT THE AIRPLANE STILL LEFT THE RUNWAY ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A SMALL WASHER PLACED BENEATH THE BOLT HEAD, WHICH HOLDS THE UPPER AND LOWER SCISSORS ASSEMBLY TOGETHER, HAD PULLED THROUGH ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR ALLOWING THE LOWER HALF OF THE MAIN GEAR TO PIVOT FREELY.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1989-05-10 Cessna C-402 accident near Tatitlek, AK?

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TOUCHED DOWN ON THE GRAVEL RUNWAY AND BEGAN TO APPLY BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT RELEASED THE BRAKES AND USED ASYMMETRIC POWER AND BRAKING, BUT THE AIRPLANE STILL LEFT THE RUNWAY ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A SMALL WASHER…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1989-05-10 involved a Cessna C-402, registration N966JW, operated by Wilburs Incorporated, at Tatitlek, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

INSTALLATION OF THE IMPROPER WASHER ON THE SCISSORS ASSEMBLY OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE EXTRA FORCES ENCOUNTEREDON A GRAVEL RUNWAY WERE SUFFICIENT TO PULL THE BUSHING, WASHER, AND BOLT THROUGH THE SCISSORS ASSEMBLY AND ALLOWING THE LOWER HALF TO PIVOT FREELY.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X28213. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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