SEA97LA129

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 210D · Renton, WA · June 6, 1997

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 6, 1997, 13:25 local (20:25 UTC)
Place
Renton, WA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N3908YCessna 210D
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 28, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19970606013579A
Case key
42622

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

Landing gear hydraulic system power pack failure.

Analysis

The pilot reported that upon arriving at his destination, he was unable to lower the landing gear. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to lower the gear, the aircraft was landed gear up. Post crash inspection of the landing gear revealed that the landing gear hydraulic power pack failed internally, and would not allow hydraulic pressure to the down position.

Factual narrative

On June 6, 1997, at 1325 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210D, N3908Y, registered to the Boeing Employees Flying Association, and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a gear up landing at the Renton Municipal airport, Renton, Washington. The pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was a ferry flight, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Auburn, Washington, approximately 1035.

The pilot reported that upon arriving in the Renton area he was unable to lower the landing gear. After repeated unsuccessful attempts to lower the gear, the aircraft was landed gear up on runway 15. The pilot reported that the aircraft had just come out of a gear check at the Auburn airport.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Seattle, Washington, Flight Standards District Office, inspected the airplane, and reported that the landing gear hydraulic power pack failed internally, and would not allow hydraulic pressure to the down position (refer to ATTACHMENT I).

The pilot was sent a National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1/2, on June 6, 1997, and again on September 10, 1997. The first form was not returned and the second, which was sent certified, was unclaimed (refer to ATTACHMENT II). The pilot was subsequently contacted via telephone and assured the NTSB's Northwest Regional Office that he would mail a Xerox copy of the form which he claimed to have completed. As of February 17, 1998, the form had not been received.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionApproach
Hydraulic system - failureCause
Wheels up landingLanding

Aircraft

Registration
N3908Y
Reported as
Cessna 210D
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21058408
Engine
Continental IO-520-A, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Ferry · Part 91
Operator
Delappe, Robert, S.
Registered owner
Boeing Employees Flying Assoc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
S50 · Auburn, WA
Destination
RNT
Airport
RNT · Renton, runway 15, 5,379 × 200 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
37
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
280 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 11 knots
Visibility
40 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
15,000 ft broken
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
RNT

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.