Merrill Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Saturday, March 27, 1982 18:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

JUST PRIOR TO THE MISHAP, MAINTENANCE ON THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THIS INCLUDED WORK ON THE CABIN HEATER IN THE NOSE WHEEL WELL AREA. AFTER TAKEOFF TO FERRY THE PLANE TO A NEARBY AIRPORT, THE NOSE WHEEL BECAME JAMMED AS THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED. THE MAIN GEAR COULD BE CYCLED BUT THE NOSE GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND. WHILE LANDING WITH THE MAIN GEAR EXTENDED, THE NOSE SECTION AND PROPELLER TIPS WERE DAMAGED AS THE NOSE WAS LOWERED TO THE RUNWAY. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT NOSE GEAR DOOR WAS PARTIALLY CLOSED AS THE NOSE GEAR RETRACTED. THE NOSE GEAR AND STRUT HAD CRUSHED THE DOOR INWARD AND UPWARD. THE CENTERING CAM/WHEEL STRAIGHTENER, THE UPPER NOSE WHEEL STEERING MECHANISM, AND THE GEAR RETRACT ARM MECHANISMS ON THE NOSE GEAR DOORS WERE WORN. ALSO, A LACK OF LUBRICATION WAS NOTED IN THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN APPROXIMATELY 15 HOURS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/27/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City ANCHORAGE
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99501
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MERRILL FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MRI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1700
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 624
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6817T
NTSB Number ANC82DA028
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 310D
Aircraft Series Identifier 310D
Aircraft Serial Number 39117
Certified Max Gross Weight 4800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 2970
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEE R. BRATCHER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3307 SPENARD RD.
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99503
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LEE R. BRATCHER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3307 SPENARD RD.
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99503
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MRI
Departure City ANCHORAGE
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MRI
Destination City ANCHORAGE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --