Summary
On July 23, 1998, a Cessna 140 (N76601) was involved in an accident near Falls City, NE. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The main landing gear leg fracturing and separating from the portion mounted to the fuselage for undetermined reasons.
On July 23, 1998, at 0830 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 140, N76601, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when its left main landing gear leg fractured during a landing roll. The airplane ground looped and came to a stop on the clearway between runway 32 (3,999' X 60' dry asphalt) at Brenner Field, Falls City, Nebraska, and its taxiway. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries after being ejected from the cockpit. The flight departed Falls City, Nebraska, at 0750 cdt.
The pilot's seat belt mounting bracket fractured during the ground loop event.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CHI98LA272. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N76601.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the main landing gear leg fracturing and separating from the portion mounted to the fuselage for undetermined reasons.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 23, 1998, at 0830 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 140, N76601, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when its left main landing gear leg fractured during a landing roll. The airplane ground looped and came to a stop on the clearway between runway 32 (3,999' X 60' dry asphalt) at Brenner Field, Falls City, Nebraska, and its taxiway. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries after being ejected from the cockpit. The flight departed Falls City, Nebraska, at 0750 cdt.
The pilot's seat belt mounting bracket fractured during the ground loop event. The left door's top and bottom hinges broke when the pilot was being ejected from the cockpit. The left main landing gear leg had fractured at the pilot step's attachment point.
The seat belt mounting bracket was made from aluminum. According to a Cessna Aircraft Company representative, the bracket should be made of 4130 steel, not aluminum. There were no logbook entries showing seat belt bracket maintenance or changes. Examination of the landing gear leg fracture showed its surface had a grainy texture that was grey in color. Shear lips were present on all 4 edges of the leg's fracture surface. About 1/8th of the fracture cross- section had a series of arrowhead shaped marks that began at the leg's leading edge and went aft about halfway between the bolt hole that was drilled through the middle of the leg and the leading edge.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI98LA272