# NTSB MIA04LA036: Cessna 310P, N5811M, Crystal River, FL, December 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 21, 2003, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Crystal River, FL - Coordinates: 28.867776, -82.574447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8678&lon=-82.5744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58554 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA04LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58554/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA04LA036 ## Probable cause Inadequate maintenance by company maintenance personnel, which resulted in operation of the airplane with a deflated nose landing gear strut, which resulted in the nose gear failing to lock in position, gear collapse, and damage to the airplane during landing rollout. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause) - landing gear,nose gear strut - low pressure - landing gear,nose gear - unlocked ## Analysis The pilot stated that during takeoff/initial climb, at an altitude of about 500 feet, he placed the landing gear handle in the "UP" position, and during retraction, heard a loud bang, and the rudder pedals shuttered. He said he lowered the gear handle, and received a green light indication only the main gear. He then retarded the throttle levers to check for the landing gear warning horn, but the horn did not activate. He said he then performed the emergency gear extension procedure, but the nose gear did not extend. During subsequent landing rollout, as the airspeed decreased the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a halt on the runway. Examination of the airplane's maintenance records showed that maintenance had been performed on the airplane's nose gear 11 hours prior to the accident, and 5 hours prior to the accident the airplane had received an annual inspection. Postaccident examination of the airplane's nose landing gear revealed that the damage was consistent with the nose gear strut not receiving proper service, having deflated, and being out of alignment. ## Factual narrative On December 21, 2003, about 1300 eastern standard time, a Cessna 310P, N5811M, registered to and operated by Crystal Aero Group Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, had the nose gear collapse while landing at Crystal River Airport, Crystal River, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated flight instructor and dual student were not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated minutes before the accident. The pilot stated that during takeoff/initial climb, at an altitude of about 500 feet, he placed the landing gear handle in the "UP" position, and during retraction, heard a loud bang, and the rudder pedals shuttered. He said he lowered the gear handle, and received a green light indication only the main gear. He then retarded the throttle levers to check for the landing gear warning horn, but the horn did not activate. He said he then performed the emergency gear extension procedure, but the nose gear did not extend, so he performed a low altitude "fly-by" to permit observers on the ground to visually examine the landing gear. According to the pilot, the observers reported to him that the nose gear appeared to be "down." The pilot said he then made a normal approach to land, and the landing rollout, as the airspeed decreased the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a halt on the runway. Examination of the airplane's maintenance records showed that maintenance had been performed on the airplane's nose gear 11 hours prior to the accident, and 5 hours prior to the accident the airplane had received an annual inspection. Postaccident examination of the airplane's nose landing gear by an FAA licensed mechanic who had not previously maintained the airplane, revealed that the damage was consistent with the nose gear strut not receiving proper service, having deflated, and being out of alignment. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5811M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5811M-2008-08-08), registration cancelled 2008-08-08, S/N 310P0111, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 310P - Registry model: [Cessna 310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310p) (registry code 2074238) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310PO111 - Airframe hours: 5504 - Engines: Continental IO-470-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-470-VO 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Crystal Aero Group Inc., - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 12, 2003, 5 hours before - Departed: CGC, Crystal River, FL - Destination: CGC - Airport: CGC, Crystal River Airport, runway 9, 4,555 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 67; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 16, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 10,300 total, 400 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.43 inHg - Observed at: BKV, 24 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 20031221036509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031221036509A), Dec 21, 2003: Cessna 310P, Crystal River, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 21, 2003, at 1305 local time, a Cessna 310P, N5811M, registered to Crystal aero group, inc, had a nose gear collapse during landing, while on… ## Other investigations on N5811M (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 MIA08CA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA031), Dec 19, 2007: Cessna 310P (N5811M), Dunnellon, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper installation of the right main landing gear scissors by company maintenance personnel, resulting in the collapse of the right main landing gear during takeoff. 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.