WPR14LA059

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 210 · Florence, OR · November 29, 2013

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 29, 2013, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
Place
Florence, OR
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N6575XCessna 210
Defining event
Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 15, 2014
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20131129023729A
Case key
88497

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

On this page

Probable cause

The failure of the hydraulic power pack, which prevented the extension of the landing gear and resulted in a partial gear-up landing.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that the landing gear actuator had been rebuilt and that all ground tests were uneventful. During the takeoff for the maintenance test flight, the landing gear retracted normally. However, when selected to the extend position for landing, the left and right main landing gear would not extend. The nosewheel landing gear did extend and lock in the down position. The pilot's numerous attempts to raise or lower the main landing gear were unsuccessful. The pilot initiated a partial gear-up landing, and, during the landing, the left horizontal stabilizer struck the runway. Multiple attempts to retract or extend the landing gear during postaccident examinations were unsuccessful. During functional tests of the hydraulic power pack, the power pack extended the landing gear; however, it did not extend or retract the flaps. In addition, the power pack did not retract the landing gear or build up any pressure with the hand pump. Further examination of the hydraulic pack revealed that the No. 1 thermal relief valve lost pressure after it was relieved and that four poppet assemblies did not hold pressure.

Factual narrative

On November 29, 2013, about 1500 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 210, N6575X, was substantially damaged during landing at the Florence Municipal Airport (6S2), Florence, Oregon. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The local flight originated from 6S2 about 1400. The pilot reported that prior to the flight, the landing gear actuator was rebuilt and all subsequent ground tests were uneventful. The pilot and passenger proceeded to conduct a local maintenance test flight. During the flight, the landing gear retracted normally, however, when it was extended, the left and right main landing gear would not extend. The pilot stated that the nose wheel landing gear was extended and locked in the down position, and that despite numerous attempts he was unable to raise or lower the landing gear. The pilot initiated a partial gear up landing to Runway 33. During the landing roll the left horizontal stabilizer struck the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent upward about 10 degrees. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination. Examination of the airframe by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector was conducted on December 19, 2013, at the owner's hangar. The airplane was placed on jacks and a hydraulic mule was attached to the hydraulic system. Despite multiple attempts, the landing gear would not retract or extend. The hydraulic power pack was subsequently removed and retained for further examination. The hydraulic power pack, part number EA1332-1, serial number 699, was examined by APPH, Wichita, Kansas, under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The examination revealed that all safety wire was intact and no evidence of system contamination was found. The power pack was placed on a test bench and functionally tested using the Cessna 210 Service Manual instructions. During the test, the system would allow the landing gear to be extended, however, would not allow the flaps to be extended or retracted. In addition, the unit did not allow the landing gear to be retracted or build up any pressure with the hand pump. Further examination of the hydraulic pack revealed that the number one thermal relief valve lost pressure after it was relieved. Four poppet assemblies did not retain pressure during the test. In addition, the hand pump assembly spring was not correct for the make/model hydraulic power pack. No additional anomalies were noted during the examination. Review of the maintenance logbook records for the airplane revealed that an entry dated April 8, 2013, at tach time of 1,854.9 hours and airframe total time of 1,885.7 hours, stated in part "….repaired leakin hydraulic power pack." No further entries were noted within the logbook regarding the hydraulic power pack.

Aircraft

Registration
N6575X
Reported as
Cessna 210
Category
Airplane
Serial number
57575
Built
1960
Airframe hours
1,865
Engine
Continental IO-470-E, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Eric Baldwin
Registered owner
Large Nathan G
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 12, 2013 · 3 hours before
Departed
6S2 · Florence, OR
Destination
6S2 · Florence, OR
Airport
6S2 · Florence Municiple, runway 33, 3,000 × 60 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
58
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight engineer, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 28, 2012
Seat
Right
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
4,209 total · 10 in this make and model · 3,673 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
340° at 4 knots
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
11,000 ft overcast
Temperature
48 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
30.30 inHg
Observed at
KONP, 36 nm away

Docket · 5

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

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