# NTSB CEN10LA567: Cessna 320, N56VP, Denton, TX, September 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 2010, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.200553, -97.198059 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2006&lon=-97.1981&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 77422 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA567 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77422/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77422 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA567 ## Probable cause The failure of the landing gear push-pull rod. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2074502), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 320, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2074502), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an instructional flight the student pilot performed four uneventful touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings at one airport and then proceeded to another airport to make a soft-field landing on the grass runway. When the landing gear was extended, the landing gear indicator light did not illuminate. The annunciator lights were checked (press-to-test) and operated normally. He confirmed that the nose landing gear was only partially extended by looking in the convex mirrors mounted in on the engine nacelles. After the pilots cycled the landing gear several times and attempted to perform a manual extension least three times, the certificated flight instructor landed the airplane and the nose gear folded. A postaccident inspection revealed that the push-pull rod that connects the gear transmission to the nose gear had separated, damaging the wing spar and several fuselage ribs. ## Factual narrative On September 18, 2010, approximately 1145 central daylight time, a Cessna 320, N56VP, registered to and operated by the Association of Orthopedic Services PA, Grand Prairie, Texas, was substantially damaged when the nose gear folded on landing at Denton Municipal Airport (DTO), Denton, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The instructor and pilot on board the airplane were not injured. The local flight originated at Grand Prairie Municipal Airport (GPM) approximately 0930. According to the flight instructor's accident report, the purpose of the flight was to administer a flight review and insurance endorsement to the pilot. After making 4 touch-and-go landings at Decatur (LUD), Texas, Municipal Airport, the flight proceeded to Decatur's Bishop Field (76T) to make a soft field landing on the grass runway. When the landing gear was extended, the GEAR DOWN AND LOCKED light did not illuminate. The annunciator lights were checked (press-to-test) and operated normally. Checking the convex mirrors on the engine nacelles confirmed the nose gear was only partially extended. The landing gear was cycled several times and manually extended at least 3 times. "G snaps" were made but to no avail. The instructor landed the airplane on DTO's runway 17 and the nose gear folded. Post-accident inspection revealed the push-pull rod that goes through the main spar and connects the gear transmission to the nose gear had separated, damaging the spar and several fuselage ribs. The Cessna 320 Maintenance Manual requires that the main and nose gear drive tubes and idler mechanism, in addition to rigging and clearance, be checked every 100 hours or 12 months, whichever comes first. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56VP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56VP), registered now, S/N 320-0036, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 320 - Registry model: [Cessna 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320) (registry code 2074502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSI0-470-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsi0-470-b) (registry code 17029, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 320-0036 - Airframe hours: 3219 - Engines: Continental TSIO-470-B 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Association of Orthopedic Services PA - Registered owner: Association of Orthopedic Services PA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 2010, 3 hours before - Departed: GPM, Grand Prairie, TX - Destination: DTO, Denton, TX - Airport: DTO, Denton Municipal, runway 17, 5,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 10, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 8,022 total, 185 in this make and model, 8,372 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 3, 1995; seat: left; flight hours: 2,074 total, 14 in this make and model, 1,924 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: DTO ## 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 20100918046849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100918046849A), Sep 18, 2010: Cessna 320, Denton, TX, Substantial damage. Push-pull rod leading to nose gear buckled resulting in nose gear failing to lock down. Nose gear folded on landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77422. 1.0 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 669 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337742&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Supplemental Inspection Document and Pertinent Service Letters (item 2, .PDF, 366 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplemental%20Inspection%20Document%20and%20Pertinent%20Service%20Letters-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337743&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.