Luis Munoz Marin International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Juan, Puerto Rico 00979
Tuesady, July 27, 2010 12:15 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Following the pilot’s brake application during the landing roll, an undetected fatigue crack that originated on the right upper barrel and trunnion assembly resulted in the separation of the lower portion of the landing gear. The airplane came to rest upright and the pilot and passenger successfully evacuated. A postincident inspection of the failed barrel revealed fatigue that originated on the outer surface and penetrated approximately 90 percent of the wall thickness. At the time of the incident, the operator had been performing visual inspections of the barrels looking for leaks due to cracking from the inside; the last visual inspection of the barrel was performed about 62 hours earlier. At the time of the incident, the manufacturer did not have a special inspection in place to detect fatigue cracks on the outer surface of the barrel, though there had been previous incidents and accidents in which the barrel of the upper barrel and trunnion assembly was documented to have failed due to undetected fatigue cracks that originated on the outer surface.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The airplane manufacturer’s inadequate inspection procedures, resulting in the undetected fatigue cracking of the right upper barrel and trunnion assembly.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 7/27/2010
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City San Juan
Event State PUERTO RICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00979
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 182621N
Event Location Longitude 0660007W
Event Location Airport Luis Munoz Marin International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SJU
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 9
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1156 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SJU
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28711
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 12 2011 11:51AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N402VN
NTSB Number ERA10IA384
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 402C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 402C0488
Certified Max Gross Weight 7210
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 10
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jul 11 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 62
Airframe Hours 26939
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name HYANNIS AIR SERVICE INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 660 BARNSTABLE RD
Aircraft Owner City HYANNIS
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02601-1927
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name HYANNIS AIR SERVICE INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 660 BARNSTABLE RD
Operator City HYANNIS
Operator State MA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 02601-1927
Operator Code HYIA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number HYIA145B
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code VQS
Departure City Isla de Vieques
Departure State PR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1148
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SJU
Destination City San Juan
Destination State PR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 12 2011 11:52AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 8016
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --