1990-05-31: Cessna 401 — Plymouth Air Sales — Plymouth, MA

Casualties unknown • Plymouth, MA, US

Probable cause

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL OF THE LEFT GEAR TORQUE LINK ATTACHMENT.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE AIRPLANE LANDED NORMALLY. THE PILOT FELT A VIBRATION AND THE AIRPLANE PULLED LEFT DURING ROLLOUT. HE HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE DROPPED TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE PULLED SEVERELY LEFT AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND STOPPED IN THE GRASS ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED A NUT, WASHER, AND COTTER PIN WERE MISSING FROM THE LEFT GEAR TORQUE-LINK ATTACHMENT TWO HOURS HOBBS TIME AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WORK HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE LEFT GEAR TORQUE LINK ATTACHMENT DURING THE LAST INSPECTION.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1990-05-31 Cessna 401 accident near Plymouth, MA?

THE AIRPLANE LANDED NORMALLY. THE PILOT FELT A VIBRATION AND THE AIRPLANE PULLED LEFT DURING ROLLOUT. HE HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE DROPPED TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE PULLED SEVERELY LEFT AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND STOPPED IN THE GRASS ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1990-05-31 involved a Cessna 401, registration N401FC, operated by Plymouth Air Sales, at Plymouth, MA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL OF THE LEFT GEAR TORQUE LINK ATTACHMENT.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X23276. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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