# NTSB DEN03LA116: Cessna T210M, N761XE, Aspen, CO, July 2, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2003, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Aspen, CO - Coordinates: 39.227222, -106.870277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2272&lon=-106.8703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57359 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57359/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA116 ## Probable cause the failure of the landing gear actuator switch. Factors relating to the accident were the false landing gear indication, the precautionary landing, and the improper maintenance adjustment performed on the landing gear switch prior to the accident flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,gear switch - failure (cause) - landing gear,gear indicating system - false indication (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - landing gear,main gear - collapsed - maintenance,adjustment - improper (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on departure, he could not get the landing gear to retract. The pilot elected to terminate the flight and returned to the airport to land. The pilot said that during the landing, he attempted to set the airplane down "softly." On touchdown, the airplane's right main landing gear collapsed causing substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The airplane spun around 180 degrees before coming to a stop on the runway. An examination of the landing gear system showed that there was a loose wire in the landing gear handle, which sent a false indication to the right main gear actuator switch, causing the system to unlock the gear but not initiate landing gear retraction. No other anomalies were found. The pilot reported that prior to the accident flight, he had maintenance performed on the landing gear indicator light. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2003, at 0830 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N761XE, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a precautionary landing at the Pitkin County Airport (ASE), Aspen, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and four passengers on board reported no injuries. The local flight originated at ASE, at 0800. The pilot reported that on departure, he could not get the landing gear to retract. The pilot elected to terminate the flight and returned to the airport to land. The pilot said that during the landing, he attempted to set the airplane down "softly." On touchdown, the airplane's right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane spun around 180 degrees before coming to a stop on the runway. An examination of the airplane showed the right horizontal stabilizer, spar and elevator bent upward and aft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the landing gear system showed that there was a loose wire in the landing gear handle, which sent a false indication to the right main gear actuator switch, causing the system to unlock the gear but not initiate landing gear retraction. An examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. The pilot reported that prior to the accident flight, he had maintenance performed on the landing gear indicator light. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N761XE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N761XE), registered now, S/N 21062594, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210M - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21062594 - Airframe hours: 5561 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bruce S. Gordon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2003, 120 hours before - Departed: ASE, Aspen, CO - Airport: ASE, Pitkin County Airport, runway 15, 7,004 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review October 1, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 7,300 total, 300 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 100° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: ASE, 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 20030702015939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030702015939A), Jul 2, 2003: Cessna T210M, Aspen, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 2, 2003 at 07:31 local daylight time, Cessna N761XE, a (T210M), landed at Aspen, Colorado Pitkin county airport as a precaution because the pilot… ## Other investigations on N761XE (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN86LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA135), May 13, 1986: Cessna T210M (N761XE), Erie, CO, substantial damage 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.