# NTSB CEN09CA343: Cessna 404, N37127, Englewood, CO, June 6, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 5, 2009, 20:50 local (Jun 6, 2009, 02:50 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.570278, -104.849441
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5703&lon=-104.8494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA343
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73982/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73982
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA343

## Probable cause

The failure of the landing gear to extend due to the failure of a hydraulic line.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Hydraulic power system: hydraulic, main system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022910): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 404, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022910/cases.md?model=2075901), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022910/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 404, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2075901), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Cessna 404, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2075901), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While en route, the left and right hydraulic system failure lights illuminated. The pilot diverted to an alternate airport. The pilot was unable to extend the landing gear using the normal system. The pilot tried the emergency system but the gear still would not extend. The pilot was forced to land wheels up after diverting to an alternate airport. The airplane's keel sustained substantial damaged during the landing. An examination of the airplane showed a hydraulic line had failed downstream of the left and right hydraulic pumps and the emergency landing gear extension air bottle, making gear extension impossible.

## Factual narrative

While en route, the airplane's left and right hydraulic system failure lights illuminated. The pilot diverted to an alternate airport. The pilot was unable to extend the landing gear using the normal system. The pilot tried the emergency system but the gear still would not extend. The pilot was forced to land with the airplane's wheels up after diverting to an alternate airport. The airplane's keel sustained substantial damage during the landing. An examination of the airplane showed that a hydraulic line had failed downstream of the left and right hydraulic pumps and the emergency landing gear extension air bottle, making gear extension impossible.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37127](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N37127), registered now, S/N 404-0114, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 404
- Registry model: [Cessna 404](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-404) (registry code 2075901) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSI0-520-F-K](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsi0-520-f-k) (registry code 17031, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 404-0114
- Airframe hours: 17130
- Engines: Teledyne GTSIO-520-M 375 horsepower reciprocating; Teledyne GTSIO-520-M reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Key Lime Air Corporation
- Registered owner: EDB Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2009
- Departed: ALS, Alamosa, CO
- Destination: DEN, Denver, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 35L, 7,004 × 77 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 7, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 144 in this make and model, 2,022 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: APA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20090606008569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090606008569A), Jun 6, 2009: Cessna 404, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 5, 2009 at 19:58 MST aircraft N37127, a Cessna 404 serial number 404-0114, experienced a gear-up landing damaging both props, several lower…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73982. 1.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Excerpts from the Cessna 404 Pilot's Operating Handbook (item 3, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20the%20Cessna%20404%20Pilot%27s%20Operating%20Handbook-Master.PDF

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.

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