Fayette County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Washington Cour, Ohio 43160
Sunday, May 4, 2003 17:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A witness reported that the airplane touched down within 1,000 feet of the runway threshold. The airplane rolled about 200 feet, and the nose gear collapsed. The airplane then veered left and came to rest inverted. The witness added that the nose gear collapse left scrape marks on the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the upper link of the nose gear torque knee had failed. Grease and oil film were observed on the fracture surface, consistent with a pre-existing crack. The pilot was also a certificated mechanic, and stated that he performed the last annual inspection on the airplane about 11 months prior to the accident. However, the pilot could not produce the aircraft logbooks. The pilot surmised that a crack formed after the previous inspection of the airplane, but was covered by the grease and oil from the engine. The pilot added that the airplane was frequently operated out of rough airstrips.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the nose gear assembly. A factor was the inadequate inspection by the pilot/mechanic.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/4/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Washington Cour
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43160
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 393413N
Event Location Longitude 0832514W
Event Location Airport Fayette County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID I23
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 982
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1751 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID CMH
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 18000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14994
NTSB Notification Source FAA Great Lake Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date May 7 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1645
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 2 2004 8:06AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Cincinnati, OH

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3591Y
NTSB Number NYC03LA099
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 182F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18254491
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 31 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3380
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James Keeney
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Connersville
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47331
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 2D1
Departure City Alliance
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code I23
Destination City Washington Cour
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi - from landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2004 3:02PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 5100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --