# NTSB ERA09LA210: Cessna 310K, N6901L, Ocala, FL, March 18, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 18, 2009, 13:21 local (17:21 UTC)
- Place: Ocala, FL
- Coordinates: 29.1725, -82.229164
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1725&lon=-82.2292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73544
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA210
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73544/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA210

## Probable cause

The right main landing gear collapse as a result of the pilot's improper flare during a previous landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2074228), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2074228), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2074228), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 310K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2074228), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Cessna 310K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2074228), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2074228), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a prior flight, the student pilot made a straight-in approach for landing. The pilot flared high, the airplane landed hard, and then bounced. The pilot then initiated a go-around and landed without incident. The pilot and flight instructor then departed en-route to their destination airport. The pilot noticed an unsafe landing gear light, and recycled the landing gear with negative results. Upon arrival at the destination airport he made two low passes. Although the green right main landing gear position light did not illuminate, ground personnel informed the pilot that all landing gear appeared to be extended. The pilot entered the traffic pattern and landed. The right main landing gear collapsed on landing roll out, substantially damaging the airplane. Examination of the right main landing gear revealed that the outboard push-pull tube was bent, consistent with a previous hard landing. When the bent push-pull tube was removed, a landing gear retraction test was successfully completed.

## Factual narrative

On March 18, 2009, at 1321 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310K, N6901L, registered to a private owner, operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight, experienced a right main landing gear collapse on landing roll at Ocala International Airport (OCF), Ocala, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The commercial pilot flight instructor (CFI), and private pilot owner receiving instruction reported no injuries. The flight originated from Dunnellon Marion County and Park of Commerce Airport (X35), Dunnellon, Florida, at 1245. During a prior flight, the private pilot stated he made a straight in approach to runway 5 at X35. He "flared a little high, the airplane hit the runway a little hard, bounced, and he initiated a go-around. He entered left downwind and landed with out incident." The CFI described the landing as firm. The private pilot departed X35 and noticed a no landing gear up and locked light on climb-out. He recycled the landing gear with negative results. He contacted the fixed base operator at OCF and asked if someone could observe the landing gear while he made a low pass over the airport. During the low pass, ground personnel informed the pilot that the left main landing gear appeared to be partially extended, while the nose landing gear and right main landing gear appeared to be fully extended. The pilot over flew the airport to the north and transferred the flight controls to the CFI. The private pilot read the emergency procedures in the operator's manual and reset the circuit breaker for the landing gear motor. The left main landing gear and nose landing gear green light illuminated. The right main landing gear light did not illuminate. The private pilot then continued with the emergency procedure. The private pilot thought the right main landing gear position light bulb was bad or there was a problem with the electrical system. The private pilot assumed control of the airplane, and returned to the airport for another low pass. Personnel on the ground informed the pilot that all landing gear appeared to be extended. The private pilot entered left closed traffic and landed. The right main landing gear then collapsed during the landing roll out. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and airframe and power plant mechanic revealed that the left wing spar was buckled. The right main landing gear forward pivot shaft retaining clamps were missing and not recovered. The forward pivot shaft remained installed in the bearing and was bent. The aft retaining shaft was pulled from the bearing and was bent downward at a 90-degree angle, and the shaft was secured to the strut assembly by the retaining clamps. The upper side link was broken and the outboard push-pull tube was bent. The bent push-pull tube restricted the operation of the landing gear. When the push-pull tube was removed thelanding gear retraction mechanism worked when the landing gear was cycled. The private pilot informed the mechanic, "that he had a hard landing while doing touch and go's at Dunnellon Airport just before returning to Ocala."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6901L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6901L-2009-06-16), registration cancelled 2009-06-16, S/N 310K0001, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 310K
- Registry model: [Cessna 310K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310k) (registry code 2074228) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 310K0001
- Airframe hours: 2037
- Engines: Continental IO-470V 260 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-470V 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Owens Elmer Eugene Trustee
- Registered owner: Owens Elmer Eugene Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 2008, 4 hours before
- Departed: X35, Dunnelloon, FL
- Destination: OCF, Ocala, FL
- Airport: OCF, Ocala International Airport, runway 36, 7,463 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 82; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 2, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 6,997 total, 47 in this make and model, 6,997 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days
- Student pilot; age 79; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; last flight review February 2, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 482 total, 213 in this make and model, 482 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Observed at: OCF

## 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 20090318005089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090318005089A), Mar 18, 2009: Cessna 310K, Ocala, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed Ocala on a training flight, landed at williston and fueled aircraft. Aircraft departed williston for dunnellon and performed one touch…

## Other investigations on N6901L (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 CHI70FGD02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70FGD02), Jan 13, 1970: Cessna 310K (N6901L), Mentor, OH, 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.

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