Billings Logan International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Billings, Montana 59105
Thursday, September 26, 2002 11:35 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that after completing commercial maneuvers for a commercial check ride, the flight returned to the airport for touch-and-go landings. While in the pattern, the landing gear was extended, however, the right main landing gear did not fully extend. Several attempts were made to extend the right main with no success. The aircraft was eventually landed with the left main and nose gear extended. When the aircraft settled on the right side, the aircraft skidded off the runway. Post crash inspection of the right main landing gear found that the main landing gear actuator was broken. Examination of the actuator determined that the component fractured in two locations. The fracture surfaces indicated the presence of closely spaced fatigue striations on the fracture surfaces that were located at the housing roller. The fracture surfaces that were located at the forward attaching bolt were indicative of overload.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the landing gear actuator during landing as a result of fatigue.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/2002
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1135
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Billings
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59105
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 454846N
Event Location Longitude 1083257W
Event Location Airport Billings Logan International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BIL
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 3649
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1135 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BIL
Elevation of weather observation facility 3649
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 9000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.9
Density Altitude (feet) 4176
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14489
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena, Montana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6525R
NTSB Number SEA02LA182
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172RG
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172RG0194
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 29 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 31
Airframe Hours 4718
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Lynch Flying Service
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1691 Aviation Place
Aircraft Owner City Billings
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59105
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BIL
Departure City Billings
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BIL
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2003 2:01PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28R
Runway Length 10528
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --