# NTSB WPR22LA226: Cessna TR182, N738JZ, Santa Barbara, CA, June 24, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 23, 2022, 19:25 local (Jun 24, 2022, 02:25 UTC) - Place: Santa Barbara, CA - Coordinates: 34.426191, -119.84149 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4262&lon=-119.8415&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - 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): 105344 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105344/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105344 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA226 ## Probable cause A failure of the right main landing gear actuator pressure line O-ring, which resulted in a gear-up landing on the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear actuator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/cases.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023233/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); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the landing gear did not extend while on approach to a tower-controlled airport. The pilot attempted to manually extended the landing gear and made a low pass over the airport. The tower controllers described that the nose gear was down, and the main landing gear was not fully extended. The pilot declared an emergency and landed on the runway with the landing gear partially retracted. Postaccident examination of the landing gear hydraulic system revealed a leak traced to the right main landing gear actuator O-ring pressure line. The actuator pressure-side O-ring was replaced, the actuator was reinstalled, and the hydraulic system maintained hydraulic pressure with no additional anomalies. According to the airframe and powerplant mechanic, the actuator O-ring showed signs of deterioration. Evidence supports that the deteriorated actuator O-ring resulted in a failure of the landing gear hydraulic system, specifically, the right main landing gear. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2022, about 1925 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna TR182, N738JZ, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in Santa Barbara, California. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he attempted to extend the landing gear while on approach to runway 25 at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), Santa Barbara, California. The green landing gear light confirming that the landing gear were down and locked did not illuminate, and he did not hear the familiar sound of the landing gear movement. During the approach sequence, the landing gear hydraulic pump circuit breaker opened, and the pilot reset the breaker, which opened a second time. He subsequently attempted to manually extend the landing gear, but the hand pump did not increase pressure within the hydraulic system. The pilot communicated with tower controllers, and they confirmed that the landing gear were not fully down and locked during a low pass over the airport. The tower controller described the nose landing gear as down, and the main landing gear as, hanging and partially deployed. While the pilot attempted to troubleshoot the situation, he observed a low voltage warning light and declared an emergency. The pilot subsequently landed with the gear partially retracted on runway 25. The left horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustained substantial damage. During the postaccident examination of the landing gear hydraulic system, the right main landing gear downlock actuator was found leaking. To test the hydraulic system, the airplane was placed on jack stands and the system was pressurized. Immediately, hydraulic fluid exited between the firewall 90° Army-Navy (AN) fitting and nut on the right main landing gear downlock actuator. The actuator O-ring was replaced in the fitting and adequate torque was applied to the firewall fitting nut. The hydraulic system was pressurized to 1,500 psi and no additional fluid leak could be traced. An operational system check was performed, and the operational logbook entry was completed. The airframe and powerplant mechanic indicated that during examination of the actuator, the O-ring was present, but the O-ring was “showing its age.” There was no reference to previous inspections or maintenance associated with the actuator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N738JZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N738JZ), registered now, S/N R18200935, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA TR182 - Registry model: [Cessna TR182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tr182) (registry code 2072735) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18200935 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 4139.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 2021 - Departed: SQL, San Carlos, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SBA, Santa Barbara Muni, runway 25, 6,052 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 216 total, 30.8 in this make and model, 157.1 as pilot in command, 18.6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KSBA - METAR: METAR KSBA 240253Z 22003KT 8SM CLR 17/14 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP107 T01720139 53001 $= ## 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 20220623011009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220623011009A), Jun 23, 2022: Cessna TR182, Santa Barbara, CA, Substantial damage. During landing approach the main landing gear failed to fully extend into the down and locked position. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105344. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16491497&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Examination email correspondence (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 955 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16491827&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Email%20Correspondence_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Landing gear actuator schematic with o-ring (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16491739&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Landing%20Gear%20Actuator%20Schematic_Item%2012_O-ring-Rel.pdf - Postaccident logbook entry (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16491507&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Postaccident%20Logbook%20Entry_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16493193&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Release-of-Wreckage-Form_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. --- 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.