# NTSB WPR10LA090: Cessna 310, N2640C, Pasco, WA, December 12, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 11, 2009, 16:00 local (Dec 12, 2009, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Pasco, WA - Coordinates: 46.264446, -119.118888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2644&lon=-119.1189&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75192 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75192/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75192 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA090 ## Probable cause The failure of the right main landing gear up-lock. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 310, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=2074202), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 310, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2074202), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Cessna 310, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2074202), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after departure he retracted the landing gear and the cabin heater simultaneously failed. He slowed the airplane and extended the landing gear in an effort to see if it would have an effect on the heater. After noting no change, he attempted to retract the landing gear again. There was no apparent movement in the landing gear position and the cockpit light was illuminated green in indication that the landing gear were down. He attempted to troubleshoot the problem to no avail. He maneuvered the airplane over the airport, where ground personnel confirmed that the landing gear were extended with the exception of the right main, which was retracted, but with the gear door extended. After numerous failed attempts to force the right main landing gear to extend, the pilot opted to land the airplane with all the landing gear in the retracted position. The airplane touched down in a tail-low attitude and settled onto the runway. Post accident examination revealed that the rod end of the up-lock push-pull tube on the right main landing gear had failed. According to the airplane manufacturer, the rod end of the tube was broken in tension overload, which is typically a result of improper rigging or a fatigue failure. ## Factual narrative On December 11, 2009, about 1600 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 310, N2640C, experienced a landing gear system failure and landed with the landing gear retracted at Tri-Cities Airport, Pasco, Washington. The front seated passenger owned the airplane and was operating it under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed from Prosser Airport, Prosser, Washington, about 1350, with a planned destination of Moses Lake, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that after departure he retracted the landing gear and the cabin heater simultaneously failed. He slowed the airplane and extended the landing gear in an effort to see if it would have an effect on the heater. After noting no change, he attempted to retract the landing gear again. There was no movement in the landing gear position and the cockpit light was illuminated green in indication that the landing gear were down. He attempted to troubleshoot the problem to no avail. The pilot further stated that he maneuvered the airplane over the airport, where ground personnel confirmed that the landing gear were extended with the exception of the right main, which was retracted with the gear door extended. During a manual retraction attempt he discovered that the gear handle would not rotate. After numerous failed attempts to force the right main landing gear to extend, he opted to fly to Pasco and land the airplane with all the landing gear in the retracted position. The airplane touched down in a tail-low attitude and settled onto the runway; bulkhead damage was incurred as a result of the landing. Post accident examination revealed that the rod end of the up-lock push-pull tube on the right main landing gear had failed. The part was disposed of prior to the Safety Board having an opportunity to perform an examination. According to a representative from Cessna Aircraft Company, who viewed detailed photographs of the subject push-pull tube, the rod end was broken in tension overload. He further stated that those failures are typically a result of improper rigging, although could be a result of fatigue failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2640C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2640C-2018-02-12), registration cancelled 2018-02-12, S/N 35040 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 310 - Registry model: [Cessna 310](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-310) (registry code 2074202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 35040 - Airframe hours: 3685 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 2009, 30 hours before - Departed: S40, Prosser, WA - Destination: PSC, Pasco, WA - Airport: PSC, Tri-Cities Airport, runway 30, 7,703 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 10, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,890 total, 57 in this make and model, 1,866 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -4 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: PSC ## 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 20091211052279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091211052279A), Dec 11, 2009: Cessna 310, Pasco, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to extend landing gear. Nose and left landing gear came down but the right did not. Attempted using the emergency extension procedure to lower… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75192. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Illustrated Parts Catalogue: Main Landing Gear Excerpt (item 2, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Illustrated%20Parts%20Catalogue%3A%20Main%20Landing%20Gear%20Excerpt%20-Master.PDF - Main Landing Gear Adjustment Procedures (item 3, .PDF, 890 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Main%20Landing%20Gear%20Adjustment%20Procedures-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Up-Lock Failure (item 4, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331575&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Up-Lock%20Failure-Master.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.