# NTSB WPR19LA237: Cessna T210, N501SF, Eugene, OR, August 20, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 20, 2019, 14:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Eugene, OR - Coordinates: 44.123611, -123.20222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1236&lon=-123.2022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100136 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100136/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100136 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA237 ## Probable cause The failure of the landing gear electric motor to shut off after landing gear retraction, which resulted in the motor overheating, burning out, and producing smoke in the cockpit. The pilot’s decision to land with the landing gear retracted resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. ## 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 · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after departing on a solo flight, at an altitude of about 3,000 ft mean sea level, the student pilot detected smoke in the cockpit. He immediately returned to the departure airport and landed gear up, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot stated that he chose to land with the gear up because he believed the airplane was on fire and “…just wanted to get the airplane on the ground.” The pilot did not report any other mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed that the electric motor that powered the hydraulic power pack likely remained powered after the landing gear had been retracted. When the motor failed to shut off, it overheated and burned out, which likely resulted in smoke entering the cockpit. The reason for the motor anomaly could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2019, about 1435 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210M airplane, N501SF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Eugene, Oregon. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot reported that the accident flight was his third supervised solo flight. Shortly after departure, at an altitude of about 3,000 ft mean sea level, he smelled smoke in the cockpit. He returned to the departure airport, where he performed a gear-up landing, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot mentioned that he elected not to attempt to lower the landing gear with the landing gear selector switch, nor to utilize the emergency landing gear extension procedure. The pilot stated, “I thought I was on fire and just wanted to get the airplane on the ground.” An examination by a mechanic revealed that the electric motor that powered the hydraulic power pack pump for the landing gear was still powered after the accident. The mechanic stated that he believed the motor did not shut off during the gear retraction and that this would have caused it to overheat and burn out, resulting in smoke in the cockpit. He was not able to determine why the motor failed to shut off as designed. The pilot did not report any additional mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N501SF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N501SF), registered now, S/N 21061808 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21061808 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 3644 - Engines: Continental Motors TSIO-520-R9 310 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nomarco Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 2019, 24.2 hours before - Departed: EUG, Eugene, OR - Destination: EUG, Eugene, OR - Airport: EUG, Mahlon Sweet Field Airport, runway 16, 8,009 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 112 total, 97 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 85 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.83 inHg - Observed at: EUG ## 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 20190820013889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190820013889A), Aug 20, 2019: Cessna T210M, Eugene, OR, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he detected a burning smell shortly after departure from eug airport. He noticed what appeared to be smoke down around the co-pilots rudder pedal… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100136. 900 KB in all. - Record of conversation (pilot) (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13050476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Mechanic's statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13051074&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mechanic%27s%20statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Post-accident photo array (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 688 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13050948&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Postaccident%20photo%20array1-Rel.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.