Kelso-Longview Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rainier, Oregon 97048
Friday, June 27, 2008 17:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The amphibian airplane nosed over on touchdown in a river. Postaccident investigation determined that the landing gear was extended, but the cockpit gear selector was in the retracted position. Examination revealed hydraulic fluid within the number seven and eight bulkheads of the left float. Applying compressed air to one of the hydraulic lines resulted in hydraulic fluid leaking from the tension actuator. During examination of the actuator, extensive leaking of hydraulic fluid around the rear seal occurred after application of hydraulic pressure to the aft hydraulic port. There was corrosion around and on the aft securing pin. The hydraulic leak would allow the landing gear to extend from the float.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadvertent extension of the left float's landing gear to near the down position due to a failure of the gear's rear hydraulic seal.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/27/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Rainier
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97048
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 460352N
Event Location Longitude 1225801W
Event Location Airport Kelso-Longview Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KLS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 20
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1735 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID KLS
Elevation of weather observation facility 20
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25102
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 27 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 24 2009 6:05PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5403E
NTSB Number LAX08LA201
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 A185F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18503963
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3648
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Armstrong Marine Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 151 OCTANE LN
Aircraft Owner City Port Angeles
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98362
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Armstrong Marine, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Port Angeles
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 98362
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 WN29
Departure City Sequim
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1620
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KLS
Destination City Rainier
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 24 2009 6:02PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --