# NTSB NYC86LA083: Cessna T210N, N5217C, White Plains, NY, March 12, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1986, 18:52 local (23:52 UTC)
- Place: White Plains, NY
- Coordinates: 41.050312, -73.740852 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0503&lon=-73.7409&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC86LA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30307/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC86LA083

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - overtemperature (cause)
  - maintenance - inadequate (cause)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - arcing (cause)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - loose (cause)
  - electrical system,alternator - disabled (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - disabled (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE FLIGHT THE PLT NOTED A FULL DISCHARGE ON THE AMMETER AND A OPEN ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER AFTER ATC REPORTED LOSS OF TRANSPX SIGNAL. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WOULD NOT RESET. THE LOW VOLTAGE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. HE DIVERTED THE FLIGHT TO WHITE PLAINS AND REDUCED ELECTRICAL LOAD. DURING THE APCH, THE PLT LOWERED THE FLAPS AND GEAR ELECTRICALLY. HE DID NOT RECALL WHETHER THE GEAR DOWN LIGHTS CAME ON. UPON LANDING THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE MAIN GEAR WAS FOUND IN THE GEAR BAY. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED 3 WIRES LOOSELY CONNECTED TO THE ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER. THE TERMINALS OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WERE DISCOLORED FROM SILVER TO BLUE. APPROX 1-1/2 TURNS OF THE SCREWS WERE REQUIRED TO SNUG THE WIRES TO TERMINAL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5217C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5217C), registered now, S/N 21063719, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063719
- Airframe hours: 1190
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Delbridge Computing System Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 1985, 36 hours before
- Departed: DXR, RICHMOND, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HPN, Westchester Co, runway 11, 4,451 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,054 total, 901 in this make and model, 1,863 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft broken
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HPN

## 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 19860312006399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860312006399A), Mar 12, 1986: Cessna T210N, White Plains, NY, Substantial damage. Wires loosely fastened to alternator circuit breaker caused electrical failure. Landing gear collapsed on landing.

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.