Kendall-Tamiami Executive Arpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Miami, Florida 33186
Thursday, May 22, 2003 11:28 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that on the morning of the incident he was asked by the owner of the airplane to perform a maintenance test flight due to the airplane being in maintenance for "a month." He along with the pilot-rated right front seat occupant, and another individual performed a complete preflight inspection of the airplane. The flight departed, and remained in the traffic pattern. The approach and landing were normal until during the landing roll, when the airplane pulled sharply to the left. He brought the airplane to a stop on the runway and advised the control tower that he and the occupants were safe and they had a braking problem. One of the occupants who is the president of the facility that had just completed the annual inspection exited the airplane and noted that the left main landing gear torque links were separated and the main landing gear tire was rotated. The airplane was raised on jacks, the torque links were reconnected, and the airplane was towed to the ramp. The president of the facility that had just completed the annual inspection of the airplane who was on-board at the time of the incident reported that to him, the approach appeared to be a little "...short, but it looked ok, due to the storm that was coming in fast he wanted to land before it closed the airport in." The right front seat occupant commented several times that the flight was high and fast. Full flaps were extended, and the airplane was landed "...a bit hard to what I'm used to, the pilot said simultaneously when landing that 'the aircraft was pulling to the left like if the brake had locked up.'" The right front seat occupant helped to maintain directional control of the airplane until it came to rest. He got out of the airplane and noted the left main landing gear wheel assembly was rotated 15-20 degrees to the left from the normally installed position, and the upper and lower link assemblies (p/n 5141005-7 and 5141005-9, respectively), were not connected to each other. Additionally, the upper and lower link assemblies securing bolt, bushing, two AN washers, castellated nut, cotter pin, and clamp securing the flexible hydraulic hose remained installed in the upper link assembly. He further stated that following recovery of the airplane, a hard landing inspection of the landing gear was performed and no damage was noted. The airplane was towed to the ramp where the landing gear was repaired before NTSB and FAA could examine the airplane. NTSB examination of one of the incident washers revealed the outside diameter measured approximately .570 inch, and the thickness was approximately .061 inch. The specified washer P/N is 5045018-1 (-1), and when exhausted use 5045018-2 (-2). The outside diameter for the -1 and -2 washers is .750 inch, while the inside diameter for both is .313 inch + .031 inch. The -1 washer is .032 i nch thick while the -2 washer is .063 inch thick. Cessna Service Kit SK 421-118 (Service Kit), dated November 23, 1983, calls for installation of a -2 washer under the bolt head and nut that secure the torque links, and inspection of the torque links. The Service Kit also specifies that washer P/N S1450-5H12-063 will be incorporated into the next Service Kit revision. The airplane was last inspected on May 16, 2003, in accordance with an annual inspection using 14 CFR Part 43 appendix D, and the "Inspection Time Limits" specified in the airplane maintenance manual. Review of the "Inspection Time Limits" guide related to the main landing gear revealed the torque links are inspected for condition and security, then serviced. Review of the discrepancy sheets for the last annual inspection revealed both main landing gears were removed and installed into another airplane, with the corrective action reading, "reinstalled right and left main landing gear on N402DD." According to the hour meter, the airplane had been operated for .25 hour at the time of the incident since the annual inspection was completed. At the time of the incident, Safe Air International, Inc., dba Island Express Airlines was leasing the airplane from the registered owner. The Director of Operations for Island Express reported that the incident pilot did not have permission to operate the airplane, and he was not a pilot nor employee of Safe Air International, Inc. He also reported that Island Express did not authorize the test flight and they were first made aware of the test flight after the incident had occurred. The owner of the airplane reported that 2 days before the incident, a letter was sent from an attorney on his behalf to Island Express advising that he (airplane owner) had taken possession of the incident airplane and the lease was, "...in default."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadequate annual inspection of the airplane by other maintenance personnel for failure to note an incorrect washer was installed securing the upper and lower torque links, resulting in separation of the upper and lower links and subsequent rotation of the landing gear tire during the landing roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 5/22/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1128
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Miami
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33186
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 253852N
Event Location Longitude 0802558W
Event Location Airport Kendall-Tamiami Executive Arpt
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KTMB
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 8
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1145 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KTMB
Elevation of weather observation facility 8
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16389
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date May 22 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2004 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Miami, Florida

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N402DD
NTSB Number MIA03IA110
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 402C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 402C0485
Certified Max Gross Weight 7200
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 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 16 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0.25
Airframe Hours 9831.65
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Langston Air Charters LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4130 N.E. 23rd Avenue
Aircraft Owner City Lighthouse Point
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33064
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 --
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) Flight Test
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KTMB
Departure City Miami
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1123
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KTMB
Destination City Miami
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 29 2004 1:14PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9R
Runway Length 4999
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --