# NTSB ERA10CA165: Cessna P210N, N34VF, Miami, FL, March 6, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 5, 2010, 20:48 local (Mar 6, 2010, 01:48 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Coordinates: 25.647777, -80.432777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6478&lon=-80.4328&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 1, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75448
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75448/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75448
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA165

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to see and avoid an unlit and unmarked helicopter dolly while taxiing at night.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Airport facilities/design: ground support/equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017070): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017070/cases.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017070/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After landing, the pilot taxied toward a fixed based operator facility during night visual meteorological conditions. As he entered a general aviation parking ramp, the right main landing gear struck an unlit and unmarked helicopter dolly. The right landing gear collapsed, the right wing deformed during the contact with pavement, and a fuel leak resulted. The pilot reported that he did not see the dolly prior to the collision, and that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. The pilot and the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident reported that the helicopter dolly was unlit and unmarked.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, following his landing he taxied toward a fixed based operator during night, visual meteorological conditions. As he entered a general aviation parking ramp, the right main landing gear struck an unlit and unmarked helicopter dolly. The right landing gear collapsed, the right wing deformed during the collision with pavement, and a fuel leak resulted. The pilot reported that he did not see the dolly prior to the collision, and that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. The pilot and the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident reported that the helicopter dolly was unlit and unmarked.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N34VF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34VF), registered now, S/N P21000307, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210N
- Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P21000307
- Airframe hours: 3836
- Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors TSIO-520-P 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 2009
- Departed: GAI, Gaithersburg, MD
- Destination: TMB, Miami, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: TMB, Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airp, runway 09R, 5,002 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 7, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 4,850 total, 3,850 in this make and model, 4,850 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: TMB

## 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 20100305028549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100305028549A), Mar 5, 2010: Cessna P210N, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed at tmb airport, pilot requested directions to fix base operator (FBO), while taxiing in a non controlled ramp area, collided with an unlit and…

## Other investigations on N34VF (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 ERA18LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA072), Jan 29, 2018: Cessna P210N (N34VF), Farmington, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fatigue failure of the crankshaft drive gear teeth.

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75448. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 502 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement - Airport Supervisor (item 2, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Airport%20Supervisor-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement - Operator of Helicopter Dollies (item 4, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329202&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Operator%20of%20Helicopter%20Dollies-Redacted.PDF
- Airport Satellite view with Accident Route (Courtesy of Google) (item 5, .PDF, 748 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329200&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Satellite%20view%20with%20Accident%20Route%20(Courtesy%20of%20Google)-Master.PDF
- Airport Operational Directive Draft (Courtesy of Airport Supervisor) (item 6, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329204&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Operational%20Directive%20Draft%20(Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Supervisor)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 434 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329206&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 (Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 405 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329207&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 (Courtesy of FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 439 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20(Courtesy%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.

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