# Accident 20040216003139A: Cessna 210E, Pittsburgh, PA, February 16, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 16, 2004, 14:26 local time
- Place: Pittsburgh, PA
- Airport: Allegheny County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3542° N, 79.9300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3542&lon=-79.9300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4974U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4974U-2018-03-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 210E (registry code 2073416, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210E
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,450 total, 2,700 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD04LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040216003139A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD) 76-14-07/R2 APPLIES TO THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN LANDING GEAR SADDLES (LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR). THIS AD HAS TWO BASIC PARTS, (REPLACEMENT OF THE SADDLES AND AN ANNUAL DYE PENETRANT INSPECTION OF THE NEW SADDLES). THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT OF THE SADDLES WAS COMPLIED WITH, BUT THE ANNUAL REQUIREMENT TO DO A DYE PENETRANT INSPECTION OF THE SADDLES WAS NEVER RECORDED NOR WAS AN AMOC. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SADDLE FAILED AT THE LOCATION IDENTIFIED IN THE AD FOR THE DYE PENETRANT INSPECTIONS. THE AREA OF THE SADDLE THAT FAILED SHOWED WATER-MARKING SIGNS IN THE METAL. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED DURING A GEAR EXTENSION FOR LANDING. THE LEFT GEAR WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVED THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION. THE PILOT COULD SEE THE LEFT GEAR WAS NOT COMPLETELY EXTENDED AND THE UNSAFE LIGHT VERIFIED THIS. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND WITH THE NOSE AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FUSELAGE BELLY, LEFT WING TIP, LEFT ELEVATOR AND THE LEFT VERTICAL STABILIZER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD04LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04LA011), Feb 16, 2004: Cessna 210E (N4974U), Pittsburgh, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The owner/pilot-mechanic's failure to comply with an airworthiness directive, which resulted in a fatigue fracture to the left main landing gear saddle.

## Other reports on N4974U (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19891012039949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891012039949I), Oct 12, 1989: Cessna 210E (N4974U), Pittsburgh, PA, Minor damage. Pilot forgot to extend gear and landed with gear up. Damaged fuselage.
- [Incident 19790624016439I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790624016439I), Jun 24, 1979: Cessna 210E (N4974U), Latrobe, PA. Airplane suddenly lost power, pilot followed placarded procedure and regained power on second attempt.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.