- Date
- November 7, 2014, 17:30 local (Nov 8, 2014, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Bullhead City, AZ
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9578XCessna 210B
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 17, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Case key
- 90372
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 landing gear actuator housing during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
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 stated that, after takeoff, he heard a loud bang after he moved the landing gear handle to the "up" position. The landing gear indication lights did not illuminate. He cycled the landing gear handle, which had no effect. In addition, the flaps would not operate. During a low pass, the tower controller informed the pilot that the landing gear were in a transit position (not retracted, not locked down). The pilot attempted to execute the emergency gear extension procedure; however, the gear would not extend. During the landing, the gear completely collapsed, and the airplane slid to a stop on its belly and then tipped on its left side, which resulted in damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that an airframe and powerplant mechanic visually examined the landing gear actuator and stated that the actuator housing had split, which resulted in the loss of hydraulic system pressure. However, no further examinations were conducted, and the reason for the housing failure could not be determined.
Factual narrative
On November 7, 2014, at 1730 mountain standard time, a Cessna 210B, N9578X, experienced a landing gear malfunction after takeoff from Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport, Bullhead City, Arizona. Tristate Careflight LLC operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The commercial pilot and three passengers were uninjured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer during the landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that after takeoff he heard a loud bang after he moved the landing gear handle to the UP position. The landing gear indication lights were not illuminated. He cycled the landing gear handle, which had no effect. He also determined that the flaps would not operate. During a low pass the tower informed the pilot that the landing gear were in a transit position (not retracted, not locked down). The pilot attempted to execute the emergency gear extension procedure, which was not successful. During the landing the gear completely collapsed, the airplane slid to a stop on its belly and tipped to the left, damaging the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that an airframe and power plant mechanic visually examined the landing gear actuator, and stated that the actuator housing had split, allowing the loss of hydraulic system pressure. No further examination was accomplished and the reason for the housing failure was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9578X
- Reported as
- Cessna 210B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21057878
- Built
- 1962
- Airframe hours
- 5,110.75
- Engine
- Cont Motor IO-470 SERIES, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Tristate Careflight LLC
- Registered owner
- Tristate Careflight LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 14, 2014
- Departed
- KIFP · Bullhead City, AZ
- Destination
- KDVT · Phoenix, AZ
- Airport
- KIFP · Bullhead City, runway 34, 7,500 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Handheld GPS
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
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,401 total · 900 in this make and model · 1,193 as pilot in command · 235 in the last 90 days · 115 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- KIFP
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB in all.