# NTSB WPR19LA231: Cessna P210, N234SB, Novato, CA, August 1, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 1, 2019, 16:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Novato, CA - Coordinates: 38.141109, -122.55583 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1411&lon=-122.5558&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100110 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100110/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA231 ## Probable cause The pilots’ improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and collapse of the nose landing gear. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after making a normal approach, the airplane touched down on the runway surface and bounced. The airplane touched down again, resulting in the nose gear collapsing. The propeller contacted the runway, and the airplane veered off the asphalt, coming to rest in the grass median. A postaccident examination of the nose gear revealed that signatures were consistent with the nose strut failing as a result of a heavy aft force that would occur with an extreme nose-low impact or encounter with an obstacle. The damage incurred to the airplane supported the likelihood that the airplane touched down hard on the nose gear. ## Factual narrative On August 01, 2019, about 1615 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna P210, N234SB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Gnoss Field Airport, Novato, California. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. The pilot reported that, after making a normal approach, he configured the airplane to land on runway 13. As the airplane passed over the runway designation markings (numbers), the nose felt as though it was being forced down and impacted the runway surface. The airplane bounced and subsequently touched down again, resulting in the nose gear collapsing. The propeller contacted the runway and the airplane veered off the asphalt, coming to rest in the grass median. The pilot thought that the nose gear collapsed a result of a failure of the lower trunnion failing, which was the subject of Cessna Service Bulletin SEB94-19, issued in July 1994. The bulletin states that the lower trunnion failures occur forward of the side brace as a result of cracks caused by improper ground handling procedures. The bulletin advised inspection of the nose landing gear lower trunnion for cracks until trunnions could be replaced with a new strengthened lower trunnion. It could not be ascertained if the airplane was maintained in compliance with service bulletin, nor is it mandatory for the owner to have complied. The accident trunnion did not have signatures consistent with a failure occurring in the area of concern. The Federal Aviation Administration-certified airframe and powerplant mechanic that performed a postaccident examination of the nose gear stated that the fork had fractured and was bent aft. He said the appearance of the retraction cylinder was consistent with it impacting while in compression; the links were intact. He thought all the signatures were consistent with the nose strut failing as a result of a heavy aft force that would occur with an extreme nose-low impact or encounter with an obstacle. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N234SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N234SB), registered now, S/N P21000673, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna P210 (N) - Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P21000673 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 4388 - Engines: Rolls Royce 250-B17f/2 450 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2019, 58 hours before - Departed: OGD, Ogden, UT - Destination: DVO, Novato, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DVO, Gnoss Field, runway 13, 3,300 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,125 total, 402 in this make and model, 880 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KDVO, 1 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 20190801017789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190801017789A), Aug 1, 2019: Cessna P210N, Novato, CA, Substantial damage. Acc. @Novato,CA(dvo) N234SB, Cessna P210, 2POB,injuries:one, hard landing which resulted in nose landing gear collapse and departure from airframe, substantial… 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.