Casualties unknown

1992-03-12: Cessna 340A (N1362C) — Corporate Air, Inc. — Long Beach, CA

Long Beach, CA, US

On March 12, 1992, a Cessna 340A (registration N1362C) operated by Corporate Air, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Long Beach, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the pivot bolt for the left main landing gear down lock bell crank, which allowed the bell crank to shift and break the rod end fitting, resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

Aircraft's left main landing gear collapsed during a turn off the runway. Examination revealed the pivot bolt for the down lock bell crank had failed with fatigue markings, leading to the collapse.

Incident Description

Air traffic control tower personnel reported that the aircraft executed a normal landing and decelerated to a fast walk speed while preparing to make a 90-degree turn off the runway. As the aircraft initiated the turn, the left main landing gear collapsed.

Post-Incident Examination

An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the aircraft and found that the pivot bolt for the left main landing gear down lock bell crank had failed. This failure allowed the bell crank to shift, causing the rod end fitting to break. Without the down lock assembly functioning, the left main landing gear subsequently collapsed.

The inspector noted that the failed pivot bolt exhibited clear beach markings on its fracture face, indicating a fatigue failure. The bolt, identified by Cessna part number NAS464P4-26, was an original factory installation and had accumulated a total time in service of 2,013 hours.

Probable cause

Failure of the pivot bolt for the left main landing gear down lock bell crank, which allowed the bell crank to shift and break the rod end fitting, resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X14315. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.