Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary FTW01LA170

Amarillo, TX, USA

Aircraft #1

N6114A

Cessna T210N

Analysis

The pilot put the landing gear control switch to the down position when he was 5 miles from landing. Prior to turning final, he "verified" that the gear was extended by looking out the window and into the mirror under the right wing. As the airplane was touching down on the runway, the gear warning horn sounded. After touchdown, the main landing gear collapsed, and the nose landing gear remained extended. The airplane tilted to the left, the left wing struck the runway, and the airplane turned 90 degrees and exited the runway. An examination of the cockpit by an FAA inspector revealed a tripped/popped landing gear motor circuit breaker. The circuit breaker was reset, and the gear was successfully pumped down by hand using the emergency gear extension mechanism.

Factual Information

On July 21, 2001, at 1215 central daylight time, a Cessna T210N single-engine airplane, N6114A, was substantially damaged during landing at the Amarillo International Airport near Amarillo, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Sugar Land, Texas, at 0900. According to the pilot, he put the landing gear control switch to the down position when he was 5 miles from landing. Prior to turning final, he "verified" that the gear was extended by looking out the window and into the mirror under the right wing. As the airplane was touching down on runway 22, the gear warning horn sounded. After touchdown, the main landing gear collapsed, and the nose landing gear remained extended. When the "wings lost lift," the airplane tilted to the left, the left wing struck the runway, and the airplane turned 90 degrees and exited the runway. The pilot stated in the Recommendation (How could this accident have been prevented) section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that the accident could have been prevented by better training for the pilot on the failure of the gear to extend and lock, and practice of manual gear extension. An examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the left wing tip, left horizontal stabilizer and left elevator were damaged. A subsequent examination of the cockpit revealed "a tripped [landing] gear motor circuit breaker." The circuit breaker was reset, and the gear was successfully pumped down by hand using the emergency gear extension mechanism.

Probable Cause and Findings

the pilot's failure to verify that the landing gear was extended and locked before landing. A contributing factor was a tripped landing gear motor circuit breaker, which resulted in the failure of the main landing gear to fully extend and lock.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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