# NTSB WPR11LA292: Cessna 320F, N6160Q, Phoenix, AZ, June 21, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 21, 2011, 09:25 local (16:25 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.688056, -112.082496 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6881&lon=-112.0825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 80908 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA292 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80908/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80908 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA292 ## Probable cause The mechanic's failure to properly secure the nose landing gear actuator push-pull tube to the landing gear door hinge clevis, which resulted in the gear jamming and not fully retracting after takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 320F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2074516), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: landing gear actuator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 320F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md?model=2074516), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Maintenance personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 320F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=2074516), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: landing gear door actuator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023232): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 320F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023232/cases.md?model=2074516), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023232/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Cessna 320F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=2074516), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 320F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2074516), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Cessna 320F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2074516), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while conducting a preflight inspection of the airplane he observed that the left main landing gear strut appeared low. He contacted a maintenance facility to service the strut and to fill the oxygen bottle. Once maintenance was finished, the pilot and passengers loaded the airplane and departed. During the initial climb, the pilot heard a noise as he raised the landing gear handle; he visually checked the landing gear and observed that the nose landing gear was partially retracted. He cycled the landing gear multiple times; however, there was no change in the landing gear's position. The pilot elected to land the airplane on the runway with the nose gear partially retracted. During the landing, the pilot kept the airplane slow with the nose gear off of the ground as long as possible. When the nose gear contacted the runway, the airplane skidded to a stop. A postaccident examination of the airframe by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the landing gear actuator push-pull tube end bolt was still secured tightly to the rod end; however, it was disconnected from the nose gear door hinge clevis. No damage was noted to the rod end bolt or the clevis, ruling out a mechanical impact-related force separating the two. The maintenance technician who worked on the airplane noted that he had the nose gear doors disconnected to gain access to the oxygen bottle valve and control cable and, after filling the bottle, thought he had reconnected both doors. He said that he normally installs the bolt and nut back into the actuating rod end finger-tight so he does not lose them. Inspection of the left gear door actuating rod revealed the bolt and nut run up tight against the rod end, requiring a wrench to do so. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 2011, about 0925 mountain standard time, a Cessna 320F, N6160Q, made a precautionary landing on runway 7R at the Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona following a partial retraction of the nose landing gear. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose landing gear wheel well and keel. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that during the preflight he observed that the airplane's left main landing gear strut was low. He contacted a maintenance facility to service the strut and to fill the oxygen bottle. Once the maintenance was finished, the pilot and passengers loaded the airplane and tookoff. During the initial climb, the pilot heard a noise while raising the landing gear handle; he looked at a mirror located on the inboard side of the left engine cowling and observed that the nose landing gear was partially retracted. He attempted to cycle the landing gear through the normal procedures and then through the manual procedures, but the nose gear did not change position. The pilot then elected to land the airplane on the runway with the nose gear partially retracted. He approached the runway at a slow speed and as the main landing gear touched down, the pilot held the nose wheel off the ground as long as possible. When the airspeed bled off, the nose of the airplane came down and made contact with the runway and the airplane skidded to a stop. During a post accident examination of the airplane, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector observed that the landing gear actuator push pull tube end bolt was still secured tightly to the rod end, however, it was disconnected from the nose gear door hinge clevis bolt. No damage was noted to the rod end bolt or the clevis bolt. The FAA inspector further reported that he spoke with the airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic who conducted the maintenance on the airplane the day of the accident. It was reported that the nose landing gear doors had to be disconnected to gain access to the oxygen bottle valve and control cable. The A&P mechanic reported that he remembers tightening the gear doors, but he must have not secured it to the clevis bolt. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6160Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6160Q-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 320F-0010, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 320F - Registry model: [Cessna 320F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320f) (registry code 2074516) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 320F-0010 - Airframe hours: 4974 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, June 21, 2011, 0 hours before - Departed: DVT, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: SOW, Showlow, AZ - Airport: DVT, Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, runway 07L, 8,197 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 10, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,437 total, 751 in this make and model, 1,372 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: DVT ## 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 20110621012349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110621012349A), Jun 21, 2011: Cessna 320F, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. On June 21, 2010 Cessna aircraft N6160Q departed Deer Valley Airport (dvt) at approximately 0924 mountain standard time; 1624Z was substantially damaged when… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80908. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 558 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352316&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Field Notes - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Field%20Notes%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Federal Aviation Administration Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352732&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photograph of Disconnected hinge - Courtesy of FAA (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20of%20Disconnected%20hinge%20-%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA-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.