Mettetal-Canton Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Plymouth, Michigan 55441
Thursday, February 25, 1993 18:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY VEERED LEFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A SNOW BANK. HE BELIEVES THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS CAUSED BY THE FRACTURE OF THE STEERING ARM ROD END BOLT. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURED ROD END DISCLOSED THE FRACTURE WAS CAUSED BY AN OVERLOAD IN TENSION, AND THAT THERE WAS NO PREEXISTING ANOMALY OR FATIGUE EVIDENT IN THE ROD END. EXCESS TENSION ON THE ROD END CAN RESULT IF THE NOSEWHEEL IS FORCED BEYOND THE LIMITS OF ITS NORMAL TRAVEL. FAA INSPECTORS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE OBSERVED WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS NOSEWHEEL SCRUB MARKS ON THE RUNWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/25/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City PLYMOUTH
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55441
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport METTETAL-CANTON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1D2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 696
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 215
Weather Observation Facility ID YIP
Elevation of weather observation facility 716
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 351
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 25 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 52107
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9297U
NTSB Number CHI93LA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier 150M
Aircraft Serial Number 15078247
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 9 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 4281
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EMERALD AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 400 WINNIE LANE STE. 13
Aircraft Owner City CARON CITY
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89702
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EMERALD AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 400 WINNIE LANE STE. 13
Operator City CARON CITY
Operator State NV
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 89702
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2550
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --