CEN15LA089

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 310J · San Antonio, TX · December 18, 2014

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 18, 2014, 17:23 local (23:23 UTC)
Place
San Antonio, TX
Injuries
3 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N700MACessna 310J
Defining event
Landing: Landing gear collapse
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 5, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20141218024169A
Case key
90546

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

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Probable cause

The retraction of the left main landing gear after landing for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations.

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.

Not determinedNot determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determinedCessna 310J: 4 casesAll aircraft: 2,247 casesProbable cause

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 reported that, after departure, he noticed that the landing gear did not retract as usual. He began to troubleshoot the problem and actuated the gear-down lever. The landing gear did not extend, and the green landing gear light in the cockpit did not illuminate. He recycled the landing gear, but the gear still did not extend. The pilot continued to the destination airport and asked an air traffic controller to observe the position of the landing gear. The controller reported that the gear appeared to be down and cleared the flight to land. During the end of the landing roll, the left landing gear retracted, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing spar. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear compartment was dirty and covered in oil and debris. However, the examination did not reveal the reason for the landing gear retraction.

Factual narrative

On December 18, 2014, at 1723 central standard time, a Cessna 310J airplane, N700MA, experienced a left main landing gear collapse after landing at the San Antonio International Airport (KSAT), San Antonio, Texas. The pilot and two passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to Laguna Verde Leasing Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The flight departed from the Castroville Municipal Airport (KCVB), Castroville, Texas. The pilot reported that after departure he noticed the landing gear did not retract as usual. He began to troubleshoot the problem and actuated the gear down lever. The landing gear did not extend and the green landing gear light in the cockpit did not illuminate. The gear was recycled and the gear again did not extend. The pilot continued to the destination airport and had air traffic controller observe the position of the landing gear. The tower controller reported that the landing gear appeared to be down and cleared the pilot to land. During the end of the landing roll when the airplane was slow, the left landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector examined the airplane and reported that the landing gear compartment was dirty and covered in oil and debris. The examination did not reveal the reason for the landing gear retraction. The airplane was not able to be examined a mechanic.

Aircraft

Registration
N700MA
Reported as
Cessna 310J
Category
Airplane
Serial number
310J0181
Built
1965
Airframe hours
8,441
Engines
Continental Motors IO-470, 470 horsepower, reciprocatingContinental Motors IO-470, 470 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Alpha Tango Flying Service Inc.
Registered owner
Laguna Verde Leasing Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 15, 2014
Departed
CVB · Castroville, TX
Destination
SAT · San Antonio, TX
Airport
SAT · San Antonio Intl, runway 12L, 5,519 × 100 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
82
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 1, 2014
Seat
Left
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
25,800 total · 3,108 in this make and model · 25,400 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
20° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
55 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.10 inHg
Observed at
KSAT, 1 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 9.3 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.