# NTSB DEN00LA033: Cessna T210M, N6029N, Cedar City, UT, July 16, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1999, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Cedar City, UT
- Location: 37.7010° N, 113.0989° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CEDAR CITY RGNL (CDC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7010&lon=-113.0989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48393
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48393/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA033

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to follow alternate landing gear extension procedures.  Factors were the main landing gear failure to extend and a loss of electrical power.

## Analysis

While in cruise flight, electrical power was lost due to an alternator failure.  The pilot elected to conduct a precautionary landing at an airport short of his destination.  When he lowered the landing gear, the nose gear extended and locked down and the main landing gear remained in the up position.  The pilot attempted to lower the main landing gear by the alternate method but failed to follow the complete procedure and the mains remained in the up position.  He landed the aircraft with the nose landing gear extended and the mains retracted.  During the landing sequence, the aircraft incurred damage to horizontal stabilizers and elevators.

## Factual narrative

On July 16, 1999, at 1100 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N6029N, sustained substantial damage during a partial landing gear retracted landing at Cedar City, Utah.  The private pilot and his passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal cross-country flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed.  The flight departed Salt Lake City, Utah at 0930, with an intended destination of Saint George, Utah.

According to information provided by the pilot, the flight was over flying Cedar City when all electrical power was lost due to an alternator failure.  The pilots' attempts to lower the landing gear via the alternate method resulted in the nose landing gear being extended and the main landing gear remaining in the retracted position. During the ensuing emergency landing, damage was incurred which necessitated replacement of the horizontal stabilizers and elevators.

According to a mechanic who examined the aircraft, the electrical failure was due to a fault in the alternator.  The mechanic provided an opinion that a check valve in the landing gear hydraulic system may not have operated properly and this could have prevented alternate lowering of the main landing gear.

Procedures in the airplane operating manual (applicable pages attached), stated that "if the landing gear fails to extend via the alternate method electrical power should be turned off by securing the avionics power and master switches and another attempt should be made.  After extension, the switches should be turned back on to verify landing gear position."  Based on a telephone interview with the pilot and information provided in writing, the pilot did not follow these procedures.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - electrical system,alternator - failure,total (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
  - landing gear - other (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6029N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna T210M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062897
- Airframe hours: 4357
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gary G. Sackett
- Registered owner: Pro Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 1999, 64 hours before
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Destination: SGU, SAINT GEORGE, UT
- Airport: CDC, Cedar City, runway 20, 8,653 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,163 total, 760 in this make and model, 1,163 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CDC, 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 19990716031369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990716031369A), Jul 16, 1999: Cessna T210M, Cedar City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft had an electrical failure resulting in a partial landing gear extension, damage was limited to wingtip and skin. Investigation into the cause of…

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.

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