# NTSB WPR18LA264: Cessna T210, N5340Y, San Luis Obispo, CA, September 15, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 14, 2018, 17:18 local (Sep 15, 2018, 00:18 UTC)
- Place: San Luis Obispo, CA
- Coordinates: 35.237499, -120.640556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2375&lon=-120.6406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98312
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA264
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98312/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98312
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA264

## Probable cause

The failure of the landing gear extension motor due to wear, which resulted in the right main landing gear not fully extending and locking into place during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to ensure that all three landing gear were down and locked before landing.

## 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 · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot reported that during the approach to land after a cross-country flight, he lowered the landing gear and felt the gear extending into place. After visually observing the left main landing gear out the window, he thought that everything was normal for landing. As the airplane contacted the runway about 65 to 70 knots, he felt a bump from the right as the nose landing gear contacted the runway. The airplane veered to the right as it exited the runway, then completed a 180° turn before coming to rest in the runway safety area; the right horizontal stabilizer and right elevator impacted the ground and were buckled upward. The pilot reported that he did not remember seeing the landing gear indicator lights during the approach, nor did he hear the landing gear warning horn; however, the pilot was wearing a noise-cancelling headset during the flight that could have prevented him from hearing the warning horn. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear was collapsed. The landing gear extension motor was replaced, and no anomalies were noted when the landing gear was tested; the warning horn sounded, and landing gear indicator lights illuminated during the testing. It was revealed during the examination that the landing gear extension motor on the airplane at the time of the accident was the original pump installed during the airplane's manufacture about 37 years before the accident. The motor was disassembled and had internal wear, which likely prevented the landing gear from fully extending and locking into place during landing.

## Factual narrative

On September 14, 2018, about 1718 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210 airplane, N5340Y, was substantially damaged during landing roll at San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP), San Luis Obispo, California. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The flight originated from John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA), Santa Ana, California at 1613, with a destination of SBP.The pilot reported that during the approach to land at SBP, he selected the landing gear to the DOWN position, after which he felt the gear extending into place. Following the gear extension, he observed the left main landing gear out the window and felt that everything was normal. As the airplane contacted the runway at 65 to 70 knots, he felt a "…bump up from the right" as the nose landing gear immediately made contact with the runway. The airplane veered to the right as it exited the runway, and completed a 180° turn before coming to rest in the runway safety area. Additionally, the pilot reported that he did not hear the landing gear warning horn, nor did he remember seeing the landing indicator lights during the approach. The pilot wore a noise cancelling headset during the flight. Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right main landing gear was retracted, and that the right horizontal stabilizer and the right elevator had impacted the ground and were buckled upwards. Subsequent to the airplane being relocated to a facility on the airport, the landing gear extension motor was replaced. The landing gear was tested, and no anomalies were noted. The warning horn sounded, and landing gear indicator lights illuminated during the testing. It was revealed during the examination that the landing gear extension motor was the original pump installed during the manufacturing of the airplane. When the motor was disassembled, internal wear was observed. The six-seat, high-wing, retractable tricycle-gear airplane, serial number (S/N) 21064173 was manufactured in 1981 and had accumulated 6,813.5 hours total airframe time at the last annual inspection on March 22, 2018.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5340Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5340Y), registered now, S/N 21064173, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna T210 (N)
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21064173
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 6813.5
- Engines: Teledyne Continental TSIO-520R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 2018
- Departed: KSNA, Santa Ana, CA
- Destination: KSBP, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Airport: SBP, San Luis County Rgnl, runway 29, 6,101 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 31, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,563.8 total, 2,521 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: KSPD, 20 nm away

## 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 20180914022309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180914022309A), Sep 14, 2018: Cessna T210N, San Luis Obispo, CA, Substantial damage. San Luis Obispo, CA: N5340Y, C210, on landing RWY29 right gear failed causing aircraft to veer off rwy. Substantial damage to tail, stabilizer, and rt wing…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98312. 5.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470374&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470375&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Mechanic (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Mechanic-Master.PDF
- Photo Array - FAA (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-%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.