CEN12LA420

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210M · Colorado Springs, CO · July 20, 2012

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 19, 2012, 19:00 local (Jul 20, 2012, 01:00 UTC)
Place
Colorado Springs, CO
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N311TMCessna T210M
Defining event
Approach: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 12, 2013
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20120719015449A
Case key
84194

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The failure of the right hydraulic main gear down-lock actuator hose in flight.

Findings · 1

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot said that he lowered the landing gear in preparation for landing but did not see a “GEAR SAFE” green light. He visually confirmed that the right main landing gear had not extended fully and noted red fluid on the landing gear. The pilot landed on the left main landing gear and, as the airplane slowed, it settled on the right wing tip and came to a halt. A repair facility retrieved the airplane and reported that the right hydraulic main gear down-lock actuator hose had failed. The hose appeared to have been an original installation. Other hydraulic lines had been replaced as there were three different styles of hoses noted.

Factual narrative

On July 19, 20121, about 1900 mountain daylight time, the right main landing gear of a Cessna T210M, N311TM, failed to extend prior to landing at the City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (KCOS), Colorado Springs, Colorado. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Aerworthy Consulting, LLC, of Franktown, Colorado, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed and activated. The cross-country flight originated from Liberal (KLBL), Kansas, at 1621. After the accident, the pilot reported to the NTSB that he lowered the landing gear in preparation for landing but did not get a GEAR SAFE green light. He visually confirmed that the right main landing gear had not extended fully. Red fluid was also noted on the landing gear. When the pilot made a low pass, control tower personnel confirmed the landing gear was not fully extended. The pilot then attempted to extend the gear manually but to no avail. After burning off most of the fuel in the right tank, the pilot landed on the left main landing gear. As the airplane slowed, it settled on the right wing tip and came to a halt. Post-accident examination revealed the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer spar were broken. In a telephone conversation, the pilot said the last annual inspection of the airplane was performed on February 2, 2012, at a total time of 3,146 hours. At that time several, but not all, hydraulic lines were replaced. Beegles Aircraft Service retrieved the airplane and transported it to their facility in Greeley, Colorado, for repair. They reported finding the right hand hydraulic main gear down lock actuator hose had failed. The hose appeared to have been an original installation. Other hydraulic lines had been replaced as there were three different styles of hoses noted.

Aircraft

Registration
N311TM
Reported as
Cessna T210M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21062515
Airframe hours
3,146
Engine
Continental TSIO-520R, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Aerworthy Consulting LLC
Registered owner
Aerworthy Consulting LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 2, 2012 · 24 hours before
Departed
KLBL · Liberal, KS
Destination
KCOS · Colorado Springs, CO
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
KCOS · Colorado Springs Municipal, runway 13, 8,269 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
52
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
February 15, 2011
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,563 total · 849 in this make and model · 1,456 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.25 inHg
Observed at
KCOS

Docket · 8

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 9.8 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.