On June 16, 1998, a Cessna A185F (registration N185DG) operated by Douglas Geeting Aviation, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Talkeetna, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the right main landing gear leg due to fatigue cracking. A factor associated with this accident is the inadequate inspection procedure specified by the manufacturer. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During takeoff from a glacier off-airport landing site, the right landing gear leg and ski separated from a Cessna 185, causing both wings to contact the snow. Postaccident inspection revealed fatigue cracks at the wheel attachment bolt holes.
Accident Summary
During the takeoff roll from a glacier off-airport landing site, the right landing gear leg and ski separated from the airplane. Subsequently, both wings contacted the snow surface. The airplane came to rest on the glacier.
Inspection Findings
Postaccident inspection of the right landing gear leg identified multiple site fatigue cracks located at both upper wheel attachment bolt holes. The cracks were discovered after the accident and were determined to have developed during normal operations.
Background
The airplane was routinely used for off-airport landings on both wheels and skis. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated 6,561 hours of operation. The Cessna 185 landing gear legs have no specified life limit in terms of hours or cycles. The only required inspection for cracks is a visual inspection for general condition, which is performed at 100-hour and annual intervals. This inspection does not require removal of the wheels or skis, nor does it require removal of any paint coatings prior to inspection.