# NTSB ERA09LA474: Cessna T210M, N732MM, Dalton, GA, August 22, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 22, 2009, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Dalton, GA - Coordinates: 34.722778, -84.870002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7228&lon=-84.8700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA474 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74573/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74573 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA474 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear actuator downlock spring. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear actuator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis In preparation for landing, the pilot lowered the landing gear and noticed the right landing gear light was not illuminated. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to lower the landing gear, he manually extended it and it appeared down and locked. The pilot then confirmed with ground personnel that all three landing gear appeared to be extended. During touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane swerved to the right and traveled off the side of the runway. Examination of the landing gear system revealed the right main landing gear downlock actuator spring was distorted. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 2009, at 1210 eastern daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N732MM, was substantially damaged during landing at Dalton Municipal Airport (DNN), Dalton, Georgia. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, when the airplane was in traffic pattern for runway 32, he lowered the landing gear and noticed the right landing gear light was not illuminated. He cycled the landing gear twice; however, the right landing gear light still would not illuminate. The pilot initiated a climb and "pumped the gear manually." The landing gear appeared to all be down and locked; however, the pilot radioed to personnel at the airport (on the UNICOM frequency) and asked them to check the landing gear as he performed a fly over. Personnel reported to the pilot that the landing gear all appeared down. The pilot continued the landing and as the airplane touched down on the runway, the right landing gear collapsed. The airplane swerved to the right and traveled off the side of the runway. Runway 32 was a 5,603 foot-long and 98 foot-wide, asphalt runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. Further examination of the landing gear system revealed the right main landing gear actuator downlock spring was distorted. The most recent annual inspection was completed on November 4, 2008. According to the mechanic, the landing gear was inspected at that time with no anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N732MM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N732MM-2019-09-25), registration cancelled 2019-09-25, S/N 21061620, built 1976 (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: 21061620 - Airframe hours: 6382 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Star Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Star Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2008 - Departed: DNN, Dalton, GA - Destination: DNN, Dalton, GA - Airport: DNN, Dalton Municipal Airport, runway 32, 5,603 × 98 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 15, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 3,864 total, 887 in this make and model, 887 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: DNN ## 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 20090822048479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090822048479A), Aug 22, 2009: Cessna T210M, Dalton, GA, Substantial damage. Arrived at Dalton airport to investigate an aircraft landing accident. On arrival I observed an aircraft off the side of runway 32 in the grass approximately… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74573. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 745 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326318&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326319&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326320&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Mechanic Interview (item 5, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326391&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Interview-Master.PDF - Landing Gear Malfunction Report (item 6, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Landing%20Gear%20Malfunction%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Aircraft at accident site, right side (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 713 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Aircraft%20at%20accident%20site,%20right%20side%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Aircraft at accident site, left side (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 706 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Aircraft%20at%20accident%20site,%20left%20side%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Aircraft at accident site, from rear (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 880 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Aircraft%20at%20accident%20site,%20from%20rear%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.