Cessna 402C incident near Nantucket, Massachusetts, April 27, 2009
On April 27, 2009 at about 11:00 am local time, a Cessna 402C, registered N769EA, suffered minor damage in an incident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Nantucket, Massachusetts (Nantucket Memo Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Installation of an improper bearing in the landing gear actuator.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2009 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Nantucket, Massachusetts · Nantucket Memo Airport · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402C · all 402Cs on the register
- Registration
- N769EA · registry record · serial 402C0303
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lowered the landing gear and the left main landing gear would not extend. He recycled the landing gear and completed the checklist items with negative results. The left landing gear subsequently collapsed during the landing roll out. A landing gear retraction test was conducted and the failure was duplicated. The extend inlet port for the up lock actuator was then removed for inspection. A small ball bearing was in the wrong position with respect to the larger ball bearing. The smaller ball bearing jumped the larger ball bearing causing a blockage. The up lock actuator and the main gear actuator were removed and examined at an authorized repair facility. Disassembly of the up lock actuator confirmed the initial finding, and revealed that the smaller ball bearing was too small. The main gear actuator was tested and was within manual limits. The operator stated that the up lock actuators are a condition item. The mechanic who performed the last inspection stated that he did not replace any bearings. The investigation could not determine who replaced the bearings or when they were replaced.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,525 hours in all; 2,750 in this make and model; 177 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 3,111 as pilot in command; 821 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 18, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24,161 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, April 18, 2009; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,210 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520-VD (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520-VD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hyannis Air Services Inc
The flight
- Departed from: HYA Hyannis MA at 10:33 am
- Destination: ACK Nantucket MA
- Runway 06, 6,303 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from ACK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 8 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N769EA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.