# NTSB LAX02LA229: Cessna T210M, N761HP, Grass Valley, CA, July 16, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2002, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Grass Valley, CA - Coordinates: 39.223888, -121.003051 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2239&lon=-121.0031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55274/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55274 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA229 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear wheel, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control during landing rollout. A factor in the accident was the failure of maintenance personnel to inspect the wheel in accordance with maintenance manual instructions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - maintenance,inspection - not performed, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - landing gear,wheel - failure,total (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis At touchdown following a normal approach, the pilot heard a "metallic clank" sound, the right main wheel broke, and the airplane veered off the runway into rough terrain and high vegetation. During the subsequent examination of the runway, black smudge marks were noted, which were consistent with a rubber transfer from the airplane's right main landing gear tire. Broken right wheel assembly components were found. The airplane was recovered from the accident site and the right main landing gear wheel assembly was examined. Upon disassembly, the inboard hub section was found broken at the inboard flange cap screws. The pilot reported he believed the hub was likely an original component, and its total time in service was 3,045.2 hours. The Cessna T210 series service manual indicates the landing gear main wheels should be removed and disassembled, and the components inspected every 50 hours. The airplane's maintenance records indicated it had been 4 years since new tires had been installed. There were no other maintenance entries to indicate that the wheel had been disassembled for inspection. An annual inspection was completed 9 months and 44 hours prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2002, about 1115 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N761HP, impacted rough terrain and vegetation after veering off the runway during landing rollout at the Nevada County Air Park, Grass Valley, California. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot, who owned and operated the airplane, nor two of the three passengers were injured. The fourth passenger sustained a minor injury. The personal flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated about 4 hours earlier from Hailey, Idaho, at 0814 mountain daylight time. According to the airport manager and airplane maintenance/recovery personnel, the initial evidence of ground scar was observed on runway 25, about 2,500 feet upwind from the landing threshold. At this location black smudge marks were noted on the runway. The marks appeared consistent with a rubber transfer from the airplane's right main landing gear tire. Thereafter, additional marks and broken wheel components were noted on the runway that appear consistent with the breakage of the right landing gear wheel assembly. The airplane came to rest approximately 25 feet north of the runway's right side. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that his total flying experience was 1,059 hours, of which 168 hours were flown in the accident model of airplane. The pilot stated that he was familiar with the Nevada County Air Park. Upon entering a left-hand traffic pattern, he extended the wing flaps to the 20-degree position and made a normal approach. On the base leg, the flaps were additionally extended to the 30-degree position. The pilot indicated that the wind was from the southwest, and it was variable in direction and speed. Accordingly, he slightly increased his approach speed to 75 mph and touched down a little faster than normal. At the time, the airplane's longitudinal axis was nearly parallel with the runway's centerline, and the touchdown was not hard. When the landing gear contacted the runway surface, he heard a "metallic clank" sound. The pilot further reported that he immediately pulled aft on the yoke, and the airplane briefly became airborne. Seconds later, he allowed the airplane to settle back onto the runway to resume the landing. During rollout following the second touchdown, he lost directional control and the airplane departed the runway. The airplane was recovered from the accident site and the right main landing gear McCauley wheel assembly was examined. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), upon disassembly the hub section was found broken at the inboard flange cap screws. The pilot reported he believed the hub was likely an original component, and its total time in service was 3,045.2 hours. The FAA reported that the Cessna T210 series service manual indicates the landing gear main wheels should be removed and disassembled, and the components inspected every 50 hours. The FAA additionally reported that the airplane's maintenance records indicated it had been 4 years since new tires had been installed. There were no other maintenance entries to indicate that the wheel had been disassembled for inspection. An annual inspection was completed 9 months and 44 hours prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N761HP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N761HP-2005-06-30), registration cancelled 2005-06-30, S/N 21062272 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210M - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21062272 - Airframe hours: 3045 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Minor E. Ward - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2001, 44 hours before - Departed: SUN, HAILEY, ID - Destination: O17, GRASS VALLEY, CA - Airport: O17, Nevada County Air Park, runway 25, 4,350 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 10, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,059 total, 168 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: BLU, 14 nm away ## 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 20020716023479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020716023479A), Jul 16, 2002: Cessna T210M, Grass Valley, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft impacted rough terrain and vegetation after veering off the runway during landing rollout. The aircraft was substantially damaged. Neither… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55274. 430 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 385 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Statement (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-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. --- 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.