# NTSB WPR21LA323: Cessna 177RG, N8029G, Albuquerque, NM, August 15, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 15, 2021, 14:57 local (20:57 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM · On airport
- Coordinates: 35.038932, -106.60826
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0389&lon=-106.6083&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- 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): 103708
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA323
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103708/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103708
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA323

## Probable cause

The failure of the nose gear hydraulic flex line, which resulted in a loss of hydraulic fluid which prevented the main landing gear from fully extending and locking into place during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Hydraulic power system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022900): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022900/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022900/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative; cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane was not performing as expected. He observed that the main landing gear did not fully retract so he diverted to a nearby airport. Despite multiple attempts to cycle the landing gear, which included utilizing the emergency landing gear extension procedures, he was able to extend the nose landing gear, but he was unable to obtain a positive down and locked indication on the main landing gear. As fuel levels decreased, the pilot landed the airplane with the main landing gear in the retracted position. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed hydraulic fluid on the undercarriage of the airplane behind the nose landing gear wheel well. The nose landing gear up hydraulic flex line showed signs of leakage. The hydraulic flex line was disconnected, and pressure tested with 200 ft pounds of nitrogen. A leak in the hydraulic flex line was identified near the top of the line, but well below the fitting. It is likely that the identified leak in the hydraulic line led to a loss of hydraulic fluid and did not allow the main landing gear to extend and lock into place. As a result, the pilot made a gear up landing on the runway.

## Factual narrative

On August 15, 2021, about 1457 mountain daylight time, a Cessna C177RG, N8029G, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ), Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, shortly after departure from St. Johns Industrial Air Park (KSJN), St Johns, Arizona, the airplane did not perform as expected. The pilot said that he noticed that the main landing gear did not completely retract, so he diverted to ABQ. Despite multiple attempts to cycle the landing gear, which included utilizing the emergency landing gear extension procedures, he was able to extend the nose landing gear, but he was unable to obtain a positive down and locked indication on the main landing gear. As fuel levels decreased, the pilot elected to land the airplane with the main landing gear in the retracted position. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that hydraulic fluid on the undercarriage of the airplane behind the nose landing gear wheel well and the fluid level for the landing gear power pack indicated empty. Hydraulic fluid was added to the landing gear power pack and a landing gear swing test was performed. The landing gear extended but would not retract. The nose landing gear up hydraulic flex line showed signs of leakage. The hydraulic flex line was disconnected, and pressure tested with 200 ft pounds of nitrogen. A leak in the hydraulic flex line was identified near the top of the line, but well below the fitting. During normal operation, the hydraulic flex line is pressurized to about 1,500 ft pounds. No issues were noted with the emergency landing gear extension system. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records could not determine the age of the landing gear hydraulic flex line or if any maintenance had been performed on the landing gear hydraulic flex line.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8029G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8029G), registered now, S/N 177RG0029, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG
- Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 177RG0029
- Year built: 1970
- Airframe hours: 2436
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bryce J. Anderson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 17, 2021, 8 hours before
- Departed: KSJN, St Johns, AZ
- Destination: 3O4, Sayre, OK
- Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque Intl Sunport, runway 21, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Data recorder, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 14, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,525 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,156 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observed at: KABQ
- METAR: KABQ 152052Z 19007KT 10SM FEW070 FEW250 29/11 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP129 60000 T02940106 58029

## 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 20210815013789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210815013789A), Aug 15, 2021: Cessna 177RG, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. On August 15, 2021, at 1340 MST, a Cessna 177RG, N8029G, [privacy data omitted], experienced a landing gear malfunction in flight and the main landing gear…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103708. 4.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12599955&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA323%20Pilot%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA exam statement N8029G (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12682060&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of e-mail correspondence (FAA) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12707854&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20e-mail%20correspondence%20(FAA)-Rel.pdf
- Retention release of wreckage form (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12681709&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Evidence control form (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12687839&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12681923&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Redacted-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.

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