# NTSB WPR09CA441: Cessna T210H, N2242R, Avalon, CA, September 5, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 5, 2009, 10:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Avalon, CA - Coordinates: 33.404724, -118.415832 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4047&lon=-118.4158&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74717 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA441 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74717/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74717 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA441 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during approach to landing, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2073438), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2073438), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna T210H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2073438), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073438), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while on short final approach to the runway, the airplane encountered a downdraft "that dropped the [air]plane below the glide slope." He immediately noticed a reduction in airspeed. The pilot stated that he applied power and "pulled the nose up in an effort to regain proper altitude." Subsequently, the airplane landed "very hard" and collapsed the nosewheel landing gear. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the firewall was bent and the fuselage behind the aft seating area was buckled. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane's systems prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while on short final approach to the runway, the airplane encountered a downdraft "that dropped the [air] plane below the glide slope." He immediately noticed a reduction in airspeed. The pilot stated that he applied power and "pulled the nose up in an effort to regain proper altitude." Subsequently, the airplane landed "very hard" and collapsed the nose wheel landing gear. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the firewall was bent and the fuselage behind the aft seating area was buckled. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplanes systems prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2242R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2242R-2010-09-15), registration cancelled 2010-09-15, S/N T210-0392, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210H - Registry model: [Cessna T210H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210h) (registry code 2073438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T210-0392 - Airframe hours: 2420 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Larry Hooper - Registered owner: Nicholas Hollis and Larry Hooper - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2008, 38 hours before - Departed: RAL, Riverside, CA - Destination: AVX, Avalon, CA - Airport: AVX, Catalina Airport, runway 22, 3,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 22, 2009; flight hours: 480 total, 20 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: AVX ## 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 20090905017019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090905017019A), Sep 5, 2009: Cessna T210H, Avalon, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) During landing at avx, the pilot reported that he incurred a downdraft just prior to flare on runway 22. The a/c made a hard landing, at the taxiway edge… ## Other investigations on N2242R (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 CHI76FEA36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76FEA36), May 31, 1976: Cessna T210H (N2242R), Indianapolis, IN, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN73DTM11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73DTM11), Sep 25, 1972: Cessna T210-H (N2242R), St George, UT, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74717. 627 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 627 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318835&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.