# NTSB ERA21LA146: Cessna P210, N210GE, Bartow, FL, February 20, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 20, 2021, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Bartow, FL - Coordinates: 27.944813, -81.786297 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9448&lon=-81.7863&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102708 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102708/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102708 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA146 ## Probable cause A leaking left main landing gear down lock actuator, which resulted in a loss of hydraulic fluid and a subsequent landing gear collapse during landing. ## 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 · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md?model=2073454), [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-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna P210N, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073454), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after takeoff, he was receiving abnormal oil temperature, pressure, and voltage indications, and he decided to return to the departure airport. During landing, the main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear down-and-lock actuator was leaking hydraulic fluid, and the hydraulic fluid reservoir was empty. The reservoir was filled, and the landing gear retracted and extended normally during a subsequent test. Given this information, it is likely that there was inadequate hydraulic fluid available to fully extend and lock the main landing gear, which resulted in the subsequent main landing gear collapse. ## Factual narrative On February 20, 2021, about 1700 eastern standard time, a Cessna P210N, N210GE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bartow, Florida. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the airplane’s engine oil had been changed earlier during the day of the accident. As the airplane climbed through 5,000 ft mean sea level (msl) on the accident flight, he heard a “clicking” sound every minute and noted that the sound occurred simultaneously with a “pegging” of the analog oil temperature and oil pressure gauges to the right, and the ammeter to the left (full discharge). He checked the circuit breakers and fuses, but did not observe any anomalies. The airplane was at 14,000 ft msl over Gainesville, Florida when the pilot decided to return to the departure airport instead of continuing the flight over mountains at night with a possible electrical problem. The “clicking” sound subsided while returning, and the pilot subsequently extended the landing gear, flaps, and speed brakes. He looked out the window to verify that the landing gear was down but did not look at the gear indicator light on the instrument panel. The airplane touched down on the runway, and the pilot reported that the tail seemed to “fall out” from under him. The airplane leaned to the left and continued in a straight path to a stop. He pulled the mixture control, shut off the master switch and magnetos and egressed. The pilot then walked around the airplane and observed that the nose landing gear was properly extended; however, the two main landing gear had collapsed, resulting in damage to the horizontal stabilizer, left wing and fuselage. Examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear hydraulic fluid reservoir was empty. The reservoir was filled with hydraulic fluid, and the airplane was placed on jacks in preparation for a landing gear swing. The electric master switch was turned on and the landing gear handle was moved to the up position. The landing gear retracted normally, and the motor shut off when the landing gear was retracted and locked in position. The landing gear handle was then moved to the down position, and the landing gear moved to the down-and-locked position with the green down and locked light on. A drop of hydraulic fluid was observed on the ground under the left main landing gear after the landing gear was lowered. The inspection panel was removed from the left main landing gear down lock actuator and hydraulic fluid was noticed leaking from the actuator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N210GE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N210GE), registered now, S/N P21000655 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA P210 (N) - Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P21000655 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 4974 - Engines: Continental IO-470 310 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 2020 - Destination: GMU, Greenville, SC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BOW, Bartow Exec, runway 09L, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,260.3 total, 610.5 in this make and model, 3,003 as pilot in command, 8.9 in the last 90 days, 4.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KBOW - METAR: KBOW 202050Z 01011KT 10SM SKC 19/05 A3022 ## 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 20210220003739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210220003739A), Feb 20, 2021: Cessna P210N, Bartow, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he departed kbow enroute to kgmu, upon climbing thru 5000 ft AGL. The pilot heard clicking noises, and he saw the amp meter was pegging… ## Other investigations on N210GE (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 CEN22LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA137), Mar 8, 2022: Cessna P210N (N210GE), Englewood, CO, destroyed. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power on short final for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102708. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12207644&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12232267&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-pilot-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12231758&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandom-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12207382&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-Rel.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.