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CEN10CA358

2010-06-26 · Cahokia, Illinois, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CPS

Current FAA registration · N2785K

Make / Model
CESSNA 180K
Year of manufacture
1979 · 31 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19790501
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A2C745

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The fatigue failure of the axle's attaching bolts during landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he had a normal stabilized descent on approach and flared about 50 feet above the runway. He indicated he made a three-point touchdown. He said that during the roll the airplane tracked to the right and he applied left rudder. He stated that he heard a "bang" and the airplane moved abruptly and uncontrollably. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage when they contacted the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wheel and axle separated from its main landing gear. Two of the four bolts that attach the axle to the gear exhibited a separation consistent with fatigue. The pilot reported that he had a normal stabilized descent on his approach to land and flared about 50 feet above the runway before making a three-point touchdown. He said that during the roll the airplane tracked to the right and that he applied left rudder in response. He then heard a "bang" and the airplane moved abruptly and uncontrollably. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage when they contacted the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wheel and axle separated from its main landing gear. Two of the four bolts that attach the axle to the gear exhibited a separation consistent with fatigue. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main landing gear attach sec-Fatigue/wear/corrosion - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main landing gear attach sec-Failure - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_CEN10CA358.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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