# NTSB CEN14LA256: Cessna 421, N866BS, Horseshoe Bay, TX, April 22, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 2014, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Horseshoe Bay, TX - Coordinates: 30.526945, -98.358612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5269&lon=-98.3586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 89291 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89291/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89291 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA256 ## Probable cause The failure of the drive mechanism for the gearbox motor, which resulted in the gear not extending for the landing. ## 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 421, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2076010), [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-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 421, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2076010), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that when he lowered the landing gear handle, he heard a loud bang. He stated that the nosewheel landing gear did not appear to be extended and that he could not be see it using the nacelle mirror. In addition, the green landing gear position lights did not illuminate. The pilot went through the emergency checklist and followed the manual landing gear extension procedure. During the landing, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. An examination revealed that the drive mechanism for the gearbox motor had failed. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On April 22, 2014, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 421 airplane, N866BS, was substantially damaged when the landing gear collapsed while landing at Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport (KDZB), Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was not injured. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The cross country flight departed San Antonio International Airport (KSAT), San Antonio, Texas, approximately 1400 and was en route to KDZB. The pilot reported that when he lowered the landing gear handle he heard a loud "bang." He stated that the nose wheel landing gear did not appear to be extended and could not be seen using the nacelle mirror. In addition, the green landing gear position lights did not illuminate. The pilot went through the emergency checklist and followed the manual landing gear extension procedure; however, the nose gear did not extend. During the landing to runway 35, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded on the runway with only the nose landing gear extended. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident reported that the bulkhead of the fuselage was substantially damaged. In addition, he stated that the drive mechanism for the gearbox motor had failed. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N866BS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N866BS-2014-09-04), registration cancelled 2014-09-04, S/N 421-0072, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 421 - Registry model: [Cessna 421](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421) (registry code 2076010) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 421-0072 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 3445 - Engines: CONT MOTOR GTSIO-520-C 375 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR GTSIO-520-C 375 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 21, 2014, 3 hours before - Departed: KSAT, San Antonio, TX - Destination: KDZB, Horseshoe Bay, TX - Airport: KDZB, Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport, runway 35, 5,977 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 22, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,117 total, 686 in this make and model, 1,931 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KDZB, 1 nm away ## 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 20140422012409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140422012409A), Apr 22, 2014: Cessna 421, Marble Falls, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot heard a loud pop upon selecting gear down. He was unable to obtain a green gear down indication following several attempts including emergency extension.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89291. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414870&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.