# NTSB WPR13LA132: Cessna T310R, N4941J, Casper, WY, February 17, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 17, 2013, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Casper, WY - Coordinates: 42.904724, -106.45861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9047&lon=-106.4586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 86274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86274/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86274 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA132 ## Probable cause The separation of the right main gear bracket assembly from its wing attachment fitting due to lack of lubrication of the torque tube bearing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Fluids: grease](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071035): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071035/cases.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna T310R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2074246), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis After takeoff, while retracting the landing gear, the pilot heard an unusual banging sound on the right side of the airplane. The right main landing gear did not fully retract. The pilot cycled the gear. When he did not get an indication that the landing gear was in the down and locked position, he attempted to manually extend the gear; however, this was not successful. Upon landing, the airplane experienced a right main landing gear collapse. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main gear bracket assembly had separated from its wing attachment point fitting. Further, the torque tube bearing would not rotate and lacked lubrication. It is likely that with no rotation in the bearing, the attachment fitting became worn with each cycle and reached a point where it could no longer support the load applied and separated. ## Factual narrative On February 17, 2013, about 1530 mountain standard time, a Cessna T310R, N4941J, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Casper Natrona County International Airport (CPR) Casper, Wyoming. The airplane was registered and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight which was originating at the time of the accident with a planned destination of Sheridan County Airport, Sheridan, Wyoming. According to the pilot, after takeoff he selected the landing gear in the up position and heard an unusual banging sound on the right side of the airplane. The right main landing gear did not fully retract. The pilot cycled the landing gear but the right main landing gear continued to indicate not down and locked. The pilot referenced the emergency landing gear extension procedure and attempted to manually extend the landing gear. All attempts to get the landing gear down and locked were unsuccessful. The pilot declared an emergency and flew a low approach back at CPR, to have the landing gear visually checked. The tower replied that all three landing gear appeared to be down and locked. Upon landing, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid and made a 180 degree turn prior to stopping. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. He further identified, with the assistance of a certified mechanic, that the right main gear bracket assembly, gear torque tube bearing was separated from the wing attachment fitting, which prevented the right main landing gear to extend to the down and locked position. Further examination of the torque tube bearing by a certified mechanic, observed that it would not rotate and its inner support structure was dry of grease. The FAA Inspector's review of the airplane maintenance records revealed that all appropriate inspections were accomplished and no regulatory issues noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4941J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4941J-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N 310R0728, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T310R (R) - Registry model: [Cessna T310R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t310r) (registry code 2074246) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 310R0728 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 3770 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER 285 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bravenec Daniel W - Registered owner: Bravenec Daniel W - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 20, 2013 - Departed: CPR, Casper, WY - Destination: SHR, SHERIDAN, WY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CPR, Casper/Natrona County Int'l, runway 03, 10,165 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 19, 2011; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,697 total, 1,436 in this make and model, 5,697 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 3 °F - Altimeter: 29.65 inHg - Observed at: CPR ## 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 20130217002619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130217002619A), Feb 17, 2013: Cessna T310R, Casper, WY, Substantial damage. On 02/17/2013, (block 3), at 0344, (block 9), N4941J, (block 13), a Cessna T310R, (block 13) sustained substantial damage, (block 11), during roll out, (block… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86274. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407203&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Emails (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407171&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Emails-Master.PDF - Gear torque tube bearing separated from its wing attachment fitting. (item 3, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Gear%20torque%20tube%20bearing%20separated%20from%20its%20wing%20attachment%20fitting.-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.