# NTSB MIA94LA187: Cessna 210-M, N761VX, Orlando, FL, July 29, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 1994, 12:24 local (17:24 UTC) - Place: Orlando, FL - Coordinates: 28.569057, -81.320724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5691&lon=-81.3207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37581 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37581/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA187 ## Probable cause THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR HYDRAULIC LINE BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON THAT BENT IT AT INSTALLATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE LINE ALLOWING ALL HYDRAULIC FLUID TO VENT OVERBOARD DISABLING THE NORMAL AND EMERGENCY GEAR RETRACTION/EXTENSION SYSTEM. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear not extended, landing - hydraulic system,line - failure,total (contributing factor) - maintenance,installation - improper, unknown (cause) - fluid,hydraulic - exhaustion - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - disabled - landing gear,emergency extension assembly - disabled ## Analysis THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LOWER HIS LANDING GEAR ON APPROACH TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, BUT ONLY THE NOSE GEAR CAME DOWN. HE DIVERTED TO HIS COMPANY BASE AIRPORT AND ATTEMPTED ALL EMERGENCY GEAR LOWERING PROCEDURES WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE WITH THE NOSE GEAR DOWN AND THE MAINS RETRACTED. EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM REVEALED THE NOSE GEAR DOOR ACTUATOR HYDRAULIC LINE WAS BENT AND HAD FAILED ALLOWING ALL HYDRAULIC FLUID TO VENT OVERBOARD. WITHOUT HYDRAULIC FLUID THE EMERGENCY LANDING GEAR PROCEDURES WILL NOT FUNCTION. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHO INSTALLED THE FAILED LINE. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 1994, about 1224, eastern daylight time, N761VX, a Cessna 210-M, landed main gear up, nose gear down on runway 25, at Orlando Executive Airport, Orlando, Florida. The flight was operating as Cherokee Air Cargo Express, an on-demand, domestic, cargo, 14 CFR Part 135 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported no injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight had originated from Tampa, Florida, about 2 hours earlier the same day. The planned destination was Sarasota, Florida. On approach the pilot could not lower the main or nose landing gear. He attempted normal and emergency extension procedures and succeeded in lowering the nose gear only. He contacted company personnel on the radio and diverted to Orlando, Florida, the company base. He tried other procedures suggested by company maintenance personnel and still could not extend the main gears. He landed main gear up and as the tail settled to the runway the wing tip hit the ground and the airplane swerved and the horizontal stabilizer broke. Examination of the gear system by FAA personnel revealed a failed nose gear door actuator hydraulic line. The failure of this line allowed all hydraulic fluid to drain overboard. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N761VX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N761VX-2013-04-16), registration cancelled 2013-04-16, S/N 21062563, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210-M - Registry model: [Cessna 210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210m) (registry code 2073450) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 62563 - Airframe hours: 11533 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Cherokee Air Express - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 20, 1994, 23 hours before - Departed: TPA, TAMPA, FL - Destination: SRQ, SARASOTA, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ORL, Orlando, runway 25, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,400 total, 900 in this make and model, 5,200 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 88 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ORL ## 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 19940729019859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940729019859A), Jul 29, 1994: Cessna 210M, Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. Unable extend landing gear. Extended nose gear manually. Landed gear up. Gear door hydro hose broke. Lost fluid. ## Other investigations on N761VX (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 MIA97LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA118), Apr 3, 1997: Cessna 210M (N761VX), Troy, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point during an emergency landing resulting in an overrun and subsequent nose over. A factor in the accident was a reported partial loss of engine… - [NTSB CHI86LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86LA091), Feb 28, 1986: Cessna 210M (N761VX), While Lake Twp., MI, 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.