# NTSB IAD04LA011: Cessna 210E, N4974U, Pittsburgh, PA, February 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 16, 2004, 14:26 local (19:26 UTC) - Place: Pittsburgh, PA - Coordinates: 40.354167, -79.93 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3542&lon=-79.9300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 76-14-07 R2](https://openairdocs.org/ad/76-14-07-R2) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 58756 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD04LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58756/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD04LA011 ## Probable cause The owner/pilot-mechanic's failure to comply with an airworthiness directive, which resulted in a fatigue fracture to the left main landing gear saddle. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - maintenance,compliance with ad - not complied with, owner/pilot mechanic (cause) - landing gear,main gear - fractured - landing gear,main gear - fatigue - terrain condition - ground - Main gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis Prior to a landing, the left main landing gear would not extend into a down and locked position. The pilot, who was also the airplane's owner and mechanic, landed with the right main and nose landing gear in the down and locked position, and the left main landing gear "hanging." Upon landing, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway. A post-accident examination revealed that the left main landing gear saddle was fractured. The landing gear saddle was the subject of an Airworthiness Directive that first required its replacement, and after 1,200 hours of service on the new part, annual dye-penetrant inspections. A review of the airframe logbook revealed that the saddle was replaced, and that annual inspections should have begun in 1986; however, there were no records that they had ever been performed. Laboratory examination of the saddle fracture revealed features consistent with fatigue, and there was a lack of dye penetrant on the part. ## Factual narrative On February 16, 2004, at 1426 eastern standard time, a Cessna 210E, N4974U, was substantially damaged while landing at Allegheny County Airport (AGC), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, who was also the airplane's owner and mechanic, the left main landing gear would not extend into a down and locked position. The pilot decided to land with the right main and nose landing gear in the down and locked position, and the left main landing gear "hanging." Upon touchdown, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid off the left side of the runway. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, a post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear saddle was fractured. The landing gear saddle was the subject of an Airworthiness Directive (AD), AD 76-14-07 R2. The AD required replacement of the landing gear saddle, and after 1,200 hours of service on the new part, annual dye penetrant inspections. The FAA inspector's review of the airframe logbook revealed that the part was replaced in 1976, and was due for its first dye penetrant inspection in 1986. There were no records in the logbook to indicate that an annual inspection of the part had ever been performed. The landing gear saddle was submitted to the Safety Board Materials Laboratory for examination. According to the engineer's factual report, the saddle fracture surfaces exhibited features consistent with fatigue. There was also no visual evidence of any dye penetrant on the part. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4974U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4974U-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N 21058674 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210E - Registry model: [Cessna 210E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210e) (registry code 2073416) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21058674 - Airframe hours: 4458 - Engines: Lycoming IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 26, 2003, 93 hours before - Departed: WAY, Waynesburg, PA - Destination: AGC, Pittsburgh, PA - Airport: AGC, Allegheny County Airport, runway 31, 3,825 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 18, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 5,396 total, 2,800 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.44 inHg - Observed at: AGC ## 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 20040216003139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040216003139A), Feb 16, 2004: Cessna 210E, Pittsburgh, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Airworthiness directive (AD) 76-14-07/R2 applies to the aircraft's main landing gear saddles (left and right main gear). This AD has two basic parts,… ## Other investigations on N4974U (2) 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 NYC67F0315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC67F0315), Oct 16, 1966: Cessna 210E (N4974U), Newburg, MD, substantial damage - [NTSB MIA66D0153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66D0153), Jul 25, 1965: Cessna 210 (N4974U), Charleston, SC, substantial damage 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.