# NTSB CEN10LA389: Cessna 210, N2157S, Houston, TX, July 9, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2010, 20:06 local (Jul 9, 2010, 01:06 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.604444, -95.155281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6044&lon=-95.1553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76596 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA389 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76596/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76596 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA389 ## Probable cause The failure of a hydraulic fluid line, which caused a loss of hydraulic pressure to the landing gear extension system and resulted in the partial collapse of the right main landing gear during touchdown. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: hydraulic fluid](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071015): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071015/cases.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071015/cases.md) - [Misc hardware: hoses and tubes](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410/cases.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410/cases.md) - [Hydraulic power system: pressure relief, main](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022915): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022915/cases.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022915/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Other; cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 210L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073448), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis During approach, the pilot moved the landing gear position handle to the down position, the hydraulic gear motor started, and the landing gear started to extend. The pilot did not receive a green gear down indicator light, and he visually confirmed that the landing gear did not appear to be fully extended. The pilot completed a number of checklist items including a "G maneuver." All attempts to extend the landing gear did not work, so the pilot prepared for a gear-up landing. During touchdown, the left main landing gear and the nose landing gear remained extended but the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The mechanism for landing gear extension and retraction in the airplane is accomplished by hydraulic actuators powered by an electrically driven hydraulic power pack or by use of an emergency extension hand pump. During the postaccident examination of the hydraulic system, a hydraulic line for the landing gear was found separated from its respective fitting, which would have resulted in a loss of hydraulic pressure. The separated line and adjacent wheel well area were found saturated with hydraulic fluid. The manufacturer’s maintenance manual requires that all rubber hydraulic lines should be replaced each 1000 hours or 5 years. During a review of the airplane’s maintenance records, there were no annotation found that indicated that rubber hydraulic lines has been replaced within the manufacturer’s recommended interval. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2010, at 2006 central daylight time, a Cessna 210L, airplane, N2157S, was substantially damaged when its right main landing gear collapsed while landing at Ellington Field Airport (EFD) Houston, Texas. The pilot, who was the only occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by Air Transit Solutions LLC. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand cargo flight. The airplane departed the Castroville Municipal Airport (CVB) Castroville, Texas, at 1700 and was en route to EFD. During approach to EFD, the pilot moved the landing gear position handle to the down position, the hydraulic gear motor started, and the landing gear started to extend. The pilot did not receive a green gear down indicator light and he visually confirmed that the landing gear did not appear to be fully extended. The pilot then executed a go-around and departed the traffic pattern to trouble shoot the gear extension problem. The pilot conferred with his company via radio and completed a number of checklist items including a "G maneuver". All of the attempts to extend the landing gear did not work, so the pilot prepared for a gear-up landing. During touchdown the left main landing gear and the nose landing gear remained down and locked and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and came to rest in a grassy area adjacent to the runway. During the landing, the right wing contacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and the right horizontal stabilizer. The mechanism for landing gear extension and retraction in the Cessna 210L is accomplished by hydraulic actuators powered by an electrically driven hydraulic power pack or by use of an emergency extension hand pump. Sufficient hydraulic fluid under pressure is required to operate the hydraulic actuators and to operate the up and down locks. During examination of the hydraulic system a hydraulic line for the landing gear was found separated from its respective fitting. The separated line and adjacent wheel well area were found saturated with hydraulic fluid. The manufacturer’s maintenance manual requires that all rubber hydraulic lines should be replaced each 1000 hours or five years. During a review of the airplane’s maintenance records, there was no annotation found that indicated that rubber hydraulic lines had been replaced within the manufacturer’s recommended interval. Visual examination of the separated line showed that it did not appear to have been recently replaced, but this examination was not conclusive with regard to the length of service of the installed hydraulic line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2157S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2157S), registered now, S/N 21061118, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210l) (registry code 2073448) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21061118 - Airframe hours: 5969 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Air Transit Solutions LLC, doing business as Air Transit Solutions LLC - Registered owner: Gary W Richey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 8, 2010 - Departed: CVB, Castroville, TX - Destination: EFD, Houston, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: EFD, Ellington Field Airport, runway 17R, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,803 total, 220 in this make and model, 1,736 as pilot in command, 149 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: EFD ## 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 20100708037619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100708037619A), Jul 8, 2010: Cessna 210L, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed castroville municipal airport, TX (cvb) enroute to Ellington Field, TX (efd). Upon approach to efd there was no safe gear indication. Pilot… ## Other investigations on N2157S (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 FTW00LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA002), Oct 1, 1999: Cessna 210L (N2157S), Fayetteville, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The cause of the right main gear collapse was undetermined. A factor was the failure of the gear 'down & locked' switch resulting in a false 'down & locked' indication in the cockpit. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 6, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76596. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - of Separated Hydraulic Line (item 2, .PDF, 598 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20of%20Separated%20Hydraulic%20Line-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - of Separated Hydraulic Line (item 3, .PDF, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20of%20Separated%20Hydraulic%20Line-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - of Separated Hydraulic Line - Fitting (item 4, .PDF, 307 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20of%20Separated%20Hydraulic%20Line%20-%20Fitting-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Right Horizontal Stabilizer (item 5, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Right%20Horizontal%20Stabilizer-Master.PDF - Drawing of Hydraulic System Component Locations (Cessna Service Manual - Figure 5-27) (item 6, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Drawing%20of%20Hydraulic%20System%20Component%20Locations%20%20(Cessna%20Service%20Manual%20-%20Figure%205-27)-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. --- 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.