# NTSB ERA22LA415: Cessna T210N, N5132C, Georgetown, DE, August 25, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 25, 2022, 16:48 local (20:48 UTC)
- Place: Georgetown, DE
- Coordinates: 38.689346, -75.36054
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6893&lon=-75.3605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105934
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA415
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105934/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105934
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA415

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was an inoperative landing gear warning horn.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: gear position and warning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023260/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he was distracted by communications difficulties due to issues with the airplane’s headset jacks while conducting an instrument approach. The pilot reported that the landing gear warning horn did not alert him as to the gear being in the “up” position and, in the resulting landing, he did not lower the landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear warning horn was inoperative.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5132C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5132C-2023-12-21), registration cancelled 2023-12-21, S/N 21063708 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063708
- Year built: 1979
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520 270 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bernard A Heckman Md Pa
- Registered owner: Bernard A Heckman Md Pa
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2022
- Departed: GAI, Gaithersburg, MD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GED, Delaware Coastal, runway 04, 5,500 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 85; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review December 15, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,660 total, 4,960 in this make and model, 6,600 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observed at: GED
- METAR: KGED 251454Z AUTO 31004KT 10SM CLR 31/18 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP185 T03110178 53005

## 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 20220825015439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220825015439A), Aug 25, 2022: Cessna T210N, Georgetown, DE, Substantial damage. Airman returned to airport after having communication issues prior to turning on final approach. Airman then landed the aircraft with the gear up and while…

## Other investigations on N5132C (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 ERA14TA435](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14TA435), Sep 13, 2014: Cessna T210N (N5132C), Gaithersburg, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to execute a missed approach after recognizing that the airplane was not aligned with the wet runway, which resulted in a long landing with a tailwind and a subsequent runway…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105934. 3.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 732 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14550523&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA415%20-%20Scanned%20from%20a%20Xerox%20Multifunction%20Printer_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14555752&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Heckman__Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� pilot (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14558350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Page5_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14551745&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1360-33%20witness%20interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14551523&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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