On November 13, 1990, a Cessna 404 (registration N54SA) operated by Superior Aviation Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Pittsburgh, PA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A FAILURE OF NOSE LANDING GEAR RETRACTION CYLINDER ATTACH POINTS WHICH ALLOWED THE NOSE LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a cargo flight, a Cessna 404 experienced a nose landing gear collapse on touchdown. FAA examination revealed that the nose landing gear retraction cylinder attach points had ripped out, with worn bolt holes showing signs of working. Access limitations hampered inspection.
Incident Overview
A Cessna 404 aircraft, operating a cargo flight, experienced a collapse of the nose landing gear upon touchdown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted an examination of the airplane following the incident.
Examination Findings
FAA inspectors determined that the attach points for the nose landing gear retraction cylinder had ripped out. The bolt holes at these attach points exhibited signs of working and were worn. Additionally, the FAA reported that the maintenance manual's reference to this area is general in nature. The location of the failure is very difficult to view during inspection due to limited access.
Discussion
The structural failure of the nose landing gear retraction cylinder attach points led to the collapse. The worn condition of the bolt holes suggests progressive deterioration over time. The general nature of the maintenance manual guidance and the difficulty of accessing the area for inspection may have contributed to the lack of detection of the wear.