# NTSB CHI95LA096: Cessna T210N, N6622N, Rockford, IL, March 7, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 6, 1995, 18:46 local (Mar 7, 1995, 00:46 UTC) - Place: Rockford, IL - Location: 42.1954° N, 89.0972° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHICAGO/ROCKFORD INTL (RFD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1954&lon=-89.0972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9845 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9845/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA096 ## Probable cause A DISCONNECT OF THE ALTERNATOR BELT, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN A DOWN AND LOCKED CONDITION OF THE GEAR WITH THE EMERGENCY EXTENSION SYSTEM. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise - electrical system,drive/belt - disconnected (cause) - electrical system,alternator - inoperative - electrical system - inoperative - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - weather condition - low ceiling - weather condition - icing conditions - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command - gear down and locked - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - airport facility ## Analysis AFTER TAKING OFF IN INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS, THE PILOT SAW THE AIRPLANE'S CABIN LIGHTS FLICKER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE LOW VOLTAGE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VOLTMETER INDICATED AN ABNORMAL VOLTAGE READING. THE PILOT RECEIVED ATC CLEARANCE TO DEVIATE AND PERFORM AN ILS APPROACH TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. ON THE APPROACH, THE PILOT LOST THE LOCALIZER AND GLIDESLOPE INDICATIONS AFTER ATTEMPTING A NORMAL EXTENSION OF THE LANDING GEAR. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DETERMINE IF THE LANDING GEAR HAD GONE INTO THE DOWN AND LOCKED POSITION AT THIS TIME. A MISSED APPROACH WAS MADE AND THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WITH USE OF DEAD RECKONING. HE STATED THAT HE FOLLOWED THE EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION PROCEDURE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY THAT THE GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED DUE TO HIS HEAVY WORKLOAD AND ICE ACCUMULATION ON THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT RECEIVED LIGHT GUN SIGNALS FROM THE TOWER TO LAND. WHILE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED, THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED, STRUCK A MOUND OF DIRT AND A CONCRETE ELECTRICAL VAULT. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE ALTERNATOR BELT HAD BECOME UNATTACHED. THE LANDING GEAR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY WHEN CHECKED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On March 6, 1995, at 1846 central standard time, a Cessna T210N, N6622N, operated by Prompt Air Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, sustained substantial damage following a loss of electrical power and subsequent emergency landing at Greater Rockford Airport, Rockford, Illinois. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight originated in Rockford, Illinois, at 1742 with an intended destination of Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois. An IFR flight plan was filed and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. In a detailed written statement, the pilot reported that while the airplane was climbing through solid instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), shortly after taking off from Rockford, the cabin lights flickered and the yoke light came on. Within a short period of time, the low voltage warning light illuminated and the voltmeter indicated an abnormal voltage reading. At this time, the pilot stated that he reported the situation to air traffic control (ATC) and requested the ILS approach to runway 10 at DuPage County Airport for landing. ATC cleared the pilot for the approach, gave him vectors, and also authorized him to turn the airplane's transponder off in an effort to help him conserve power. The pilot then turned off all other unnecessary electrical equipment. While established on the approach inside the outer marker, the pilot attempted to extend the landing gear normally with electrical power in preparation for landing. This procedure used all remaining electrical power of the battery and the airplane's localizer and glideslope indicator flags appeared. The pilot executed an immediate missed approach. It is not known whether or not the landing gear had gone into the down and locked position at this time. Familiar with the area, the pilot stated that after the missed approach he had decided to fly in a westerly direction in an effort to avoid obstructions and congested areas. The pilot stated that he was able to fly back to Rockford by use of dead reckoning. Once he reached the Greater Rockford Airport, the pilot received light gun signals from the tower to land. The pilot stated he followed the emergency gear extension procedure. After landing, the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded and struck a mound of dirt and a concrete electrical vault before coming to rest. The pilot had stated to the FAA that he was not able to verify that the landing gear was down and locked due to his heavy workload and the ice accumulation on the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed the alternator belt had become unattached. The alternator belt was not cracked, brittle, or glazed, but did have several areas on it which resembled rubbing marks. The airplane log book showed the last inspection was a 50 hour inspection performed on March 3, 1995. The airplane had logged 11.4 hours since the inspection. The airplane's last annual inspection was on May 5, 1994. Review of the Pilot Operator's Handbook for the Cessna T210N, found no mention of a recommended manual gear extension procedure in the event of an electrical system failure or a low voltage situation. The airplane manufacturer is now in the process of incorporating a recommended procedure for manual extension of the landing gear which would help the pilot conserve electrical power for essential navigation and communication equipment. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6622N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6622N-2016-05-24), registration cancelled 2016-05-24, S/N 21063125, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N - Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21063125 - Airframe hours: 6181 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Prompt Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, March 1, 1995, 11 hours before - Departed: RFD - Destination: MDW, CHICAGO, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: RFD, Greater Rockford Airport, runway 7, 6,504 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,168 total, 188 in this make and model, 2,080 as pilot in command, 256 in the last 90 days, 94 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 60° at 8 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RFD ## 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 19950306007139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950306007139A), Mar 6, 1995: Cessna T210N, Rockford, IL, Substantial damage. Lost electrical power IFR departing dpa. Tried return. Deplated battery. Diverted rfd. Gear folded. Alt belt broke. (-23) after departing from Rockford… 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.