CEN17LA022

As the private pilot approached his destination airport for landing, he lowered the landing gear handle but did not have a down-and-locked indication in the cockpit. He used the emergency gear extension handle to lower the gear; however, he felt no resistance on the emergency gear handle. After checking the wing-mounted landing gear mirrors, it appeared that the landing gear was extended. The pilot circled and landed. Upon landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded off the runway to the right, which resulted in substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed a leak near the hydraulic pump, and no resistance was felt on the pump handle. Due to the leak, it is likely that there was not enough hydraulic pressure to extend and lock the landing gear in the down position when the pilot attempted to lower the gear, which is consistent with the pilot not feeling any resistance on the emergency landing gear handle in flight. A review of recent maintenance records for the airplane did not reveal any previous landing gear anomalies.

On October 18, 2016, about 1015 central daylight time, a Cessna T210L airplane, N210LC, registered to Ventana Development Brazos LLC, Bay City, Texas, sustained substantial damage after the right main landing gear collapsed upon landing at the Austin Executive Airport (EDC), Pflugerville, Texas. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The cross country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from the Bay City Airport (BYY), Bay City, Texas, about 0915. According to the pilot, upon approaching EDC, he lowered the landing gear but did not have a down-and-locked indication in the cockpit. He utilized the emergency gear extension handle to lower the gear. He felt no resistance on the emergency gear handle. After checking the wing mounted landing gear mirrors, it appeared that the landing gear was extended. The pilot circled and landed. Upon landing, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded off the runway to the right, resulting insubstantial damage to the right side horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Airport personnel asked the FAA and NTSB to move the airplane from the runway for safety. A mechanic manually pulled down the right main landing gear into the locked position after the airplane was raised. The airplane was then removed from the runway and brought to a ramp for inspection. When the FAA arrived at the accident scene, the aircraft was sitting on the ramp with all three wheels down and locked. Pumping of the emergency gear handle by FAA on the ramp revealed a hydraulic fluid leak near the pump with no resistance being felt on the handle. Review of available maintenance records did not revel any previous anomalies with the landing gear. The most recent annual inspection was completed on December 5, 2015.