WPR15LA038

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 210B · Bullhead City, AZ · November 8, 2014

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
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.

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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.

Not determinedNot determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determinedCessna 210B: 3 casesAll aircraft: 2,247 casesProbable cause

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.