# NTSB SEA05LA084: Cessna T210N, N2AK, Kalispell, MT, April 20, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 20, 2005, 15:17 local (21:17 UTC) - Place: Kalispell, MT - Coordinates: 48.311389, -114.254997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3114&lon=-114.2550&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61346 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61346/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA084 ## Probable cause An airborne fire which was fueled by leaking hydraulic fluid (the ignition source for the fire was undetermined) from the landing gear hydraulic system located under the cockpit instrument panel due to inadequate maintenance from other maintenance personnel. Contributing factors were the hydraulic fluid and the pilot's hard landing due the airplane's control not being possible subsequent to the loss of external visibility caused by smoke in the cockpit. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - hydraulic system,line - leak (cause) - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Fire, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - fluid,hydraulic - burned (contributing factor) - Hard landing, descent - emergency - fuselage,cabin - smoke (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot lowered the landing gear on a 3.5 mile extended left base. He said that he was cleared to land by air traffic control (ATC). He checked the landing gear down indication lights, and when he looked up again, black smoke was coming from the dash. He looked down at the control pedestal and saw smoke and fire; he said black smoke immediately eliminated outside visibility. The pilot said that the passenger reported seeing the runway out his open window. The pilot landed the airplane, which bounced, and on the second touchdown the front nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop. He and the passenger exited the airplane, which subsequently was consumed by the ensuing fire. The airplane's maintenance records indicated that the following maintenance had been done since the beginning of the year: 1. On January 28, 2005, the engine was removed and a remanufactured engine installed. 2. On March 18, 2005, an annual inspection was completed. 3. On March 30, 2005, an inverter (located up/behind the instrument panel) was replaced. 4. On April 11, 2005, the altimeter was replaced with an overhauled one. Postaccident investigation of the landing gear hydraulic pump (located up/behind the instrument panel) and its associated tubular plumbing found several fractures and failures. A NTSB metallurgist examined the hydraulic lines and found no evidence of preexisting cracking or fractures; using a scanning electron microscope, he identified typical intergranular features with rounded edges, which are indicative of high temperature overstress failures. A NTSB fire expert examined the main wire bundle from under the instrument panel and said that due to the extent of fire damage, an ignition source for the fire could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On April 20, 2005, at 1517 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210N, N2AK, was destroyed during an in-flight fire and subsequent post landing fire at Glacier Park International Airport (GPI), Kalispell, Montana. The commercial pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Felts Field Aviation Inc., Spokane, Washington, was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that originated from Spokane, Washington, at approximately 1330. The pilot was flying on a VFR flight plan. The pilot said that he lowered the landing gear on a 3.5 mile extended left base. He said that he was cleared to land by ATC on runway 02. He checked the landing gear down indication lights, and when he looked up again, black smoke was coming from the dash. He looked down at the control pedestal and saw smoke and fire; he said black smoke immediately eliminated outside visibility. The pilot said that the passenger reported seeing the runway out his open window. The pilot landed the airplane, which bounced, and on the second touchdown the front nose gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop. He and the passenger exited the airplane, which subsequently was consumed by the ensuing fire. The airplane's maintenance records indicated that the following maintenance had been done since the beginning of the year: 1. On January 28, 2005, the engine was removed and a remanufactured engine installed. 2. On March 18, 2005, an annual inspection was completed. 3. On March 30, 2005, an inverter (located up/behind the instrument panel) was replaced. 4. On April 11, 2005, the altimeter was replaced with an overhauled one. Postaccident investigation of the landing gear hydraulic pump (located up/behind the instrument panel) and its associated tubular plumbing found several fractures and failures. A NTSB metallurgist examined the hydraulic lines and found no evidence of preexisting cracking or fractures; using a scanning electron microscope, he identified typical intergranular features with rounded edges, which are indicative of high temperature overstress failures. A NTSB fire expert examined the main wire bundle from under the instrument panel and said that due to the extent of fire damage, an ignition source for the fire could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2AK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2AK-2005-05-31), registration cancelled 2005-05-31, S/N 21064861, built 1984 (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: 21064861 - Airframe hours: 4787 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Felts Field Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2005, 25 hours before - Departed: SFF, Spokane, WA - Destination: GPI, Kalispell, WA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: FCA, Glacier Park International Arp, runway 02, 8,003 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 3,233 total, 736 in this make and model, 3,084 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: GPI ## 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 20050420005559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050420005559A), Apr 20, 2005: Cessna T210N, Kalispell, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he called fca tower on a 3 1/2 mile left base to runway 2 at Glacier Park International he lowered the landing gear. Another aircraft… 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.