Cessna 210 Crash – Metal fatigue still an insidious threat
Wing failure, fatal (2), Cessna 210, Australia, 26 May 2019
The right wing of the modified Cessna 210 failed in flight, from metal fatigue in the main spar carry-through structure. It’s another example of metal fatigue still being an insidious airworthiness threat, even (especially?) for aircraft types with a long service history.
We will be watching the investigation, with particular interest in the contribution, if any, of these factors:
- design (modified)
- usage (severe?)
- corrosion
- fretting
- inspectability
- ICA (effective?)
For more, see:
ATSB Website – ATSB Accident Investigation Report: AQ-209-026
CASA’s Airworthiness Bulletin: https://www.casa.gov.au/files/awb-53-011-issue-1-cessna-210-and-177-wing-carry-through-spar
Cessna’s Service Letter: http://cessnaowner.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/SEL-57-06-Eddy-Current-210.pdf
FAA’s Airworthiness Alert: https://www.faasafety.gov/SPANS/noticeView.aspx?nid=9552
