- Date
- October 1, 1999, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fayetteville, AR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2157SCessna 210L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 18, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19991001044149A
- Case key
- 47515
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The cause of the right main gear collapse was undetermined. A factor was the failure of the gear 'down & locked' switch resulting in a false 'down & locked' indication in the cockpit.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was cleared to land. He extended the landing gear on 1/2 mile final, and he 'heard the gear lock into position.' He added that he then visually checked to see that the gear was extended and confirmed this by noting the illuminated green light in the cockpit. Upon touchdown, a noise was heard, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane exited the runway surface and came to rest in a grassy area. Examination of the landing gear system revealed that the right main gear down lock switch failed in the 'closed' or 'down locked' position. Furthermore, 'dried paint stripper and paint' were observed around the plunger portion of the switch, which prevented the plunger from extending.
Factual narrative
On October 1, 1999, at 1530 central daylight time, a Cessna 210L airplane, N2157S, was substantially damaged when the right main gear collapsed upon landing at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, near Fayetteville, Arkansas. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight and a flight plan was not filed. The cross-country flight originated from the Sally Wofford Airport, Weiner, Arkansas, at 1300.
According to the pilot, when the airplane was 5 miles from the destination airport in Fayetteville, he was cleared to land on runway 16. He extended the landing gear while on a 1/2 mile final. He "heard the gear lock into position," and then visually confirmed that the landing gear had extended. Furthermore, the green light in the cockpit illuminated, confirming that the gear was extended. Upon touchdown, a noise was heard, and the passenger stated, "I think we had a blowout." The right wing tip contacted the pavement, and the airplane exited the runway surface to the right of the runway centerline. The airplane came to rest upright in a grassy area adjacent to the runway.
Examination of the airplane, by an FAA certified mechanic revealed that the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were "severely bent in an upward direction." The outboard leading edge skin and two nose ribs of the right wing were structurally damaged. Additionally, the tail tie down ring and two antennas mounted on the belly were damaged. The mechanic stated that the right main gear down lock switch (Cessna part number S1377-1) failed in the "closed" or "down locked" position. "Dried paint stripper and paint" were observed around the plunger portion of the switch, which prevented the plunger from extending.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2157S
- Reported as
- Cessna 210L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21061118
- Airframe hours
- 2,959
- Engine
- Continental IO-520, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Steve P. Carpenter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 8M2 · Weiner, AR
- Airport
- XNA · Northwest Arkansas Rgnl, runway 16, 8,800 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 900 total · 200 in this make and model · 900 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2157S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.