# NTSB CHI98LA001: Cessna T210N, N5168A, Fargo, ND, October 1, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 1997, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Fargo, ND
- Coordinates: 46.930198, -96.830062 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9302&lon=-96.8301&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 10753
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10753/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA001

## Probable cause

the circuit breaker for the hydraulic pump popped during gear extension which resulting in the failure of the landing gear to lock in the extended position.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - popped/tripped (cause)
  - hydraulic system,pump - inoperative (cause)
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - not engaged (cause)
  - gear down and locked - not attained, pilot in command

## Analysis

The pilot extended the landing gear 3 to 4 miles prior to landing.  During the landing flare the landing gear warning horn sounded.  The pilot reported that it was too late to initiate a go-around so he continued the landing during which the landing gear collapsed.  Postaccident testing of the landing gear system revealed the hydraulic pump circuit breaker would pop when the landing gear was extended.  This resulted in the gear being in a trailing unlocked position.

## Factual narrative

On October 1, 1997, at 0830 central daylight time, a Cessna T210N, N5168A, operated by a commercial pilot collided with the terrain when the landing gear collapsed on touchdown.  The landing was being made on runway 17 at the Hector International Airport, Fargo, North Dakota.  The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The pilot was not injured.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The flight originated from a private airstrip in Hillsboro, North Dakota, at 0800.

The pilot reported he extended the landing gear 3 to 4 miles prior to touchdown at an airspeed of 120 knots.  He reported that he kept his hand on the gear lever until it was down at which time he made a visual check to assure it was down.  He reported that during the landing flare he heard the gear warning horn; however, it was too late to initiate a go-around.  The landing gear collapsed as the airplane touched down.

Post accident testing of the landing gear system revealed the hydraulic pump circuit breaker would pop when the landing gear was extended leaving the gear in a trailing unlocked position.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5168A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5168A), registered now, S/N 21063294, built 1979 (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: 21063294
- Airframe hours: 2641
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Daniel J. Down
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 1997, 54 hours before
- Departed: 5ND6, HILLSBORO, ND
- Destination: FAR
- Airport: FAR, Hector Intl, runway 17, 9,546 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,463 total, 365 in this make and model, 1,345 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FAR

## 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 19971001029399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971001029399A), Oct 1, 1997: Cessna T210N, Fargo, ND, Substantial damage. Landing gear collapsed on landing.

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.