Pilot Debrief

CESSNA T210L near Marana, AZ — 2022-10-10

Final reportWPR23LA012
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Date
2022-10-10
Location
Marana, AZ, USA
Airport
AVQ
Aircraft
CESSNA T210L
Registration
N2425S
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A failure of a retaining ring in the airplane’s left main landing gear door actuator and the subsequent complete loss of hydraulic fluid, which resulted in a gear-up landing.

NTSB narrative

During a post-maintenance test flight after an engine overhaul and annual airframe inspection, the pilot retracted the landing gear as he departed the runway. While on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern the pilot lowered the landing gear handle, but the landing gear remained retracted and stowed and the associated green indicator light was not illuminated. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the anomaly and eventually performed an emergency landing. The airplane touched down on the partially extended nose landing gear and fuselage, resulting in damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed that the left main landing gear actuator retaining ring separated from the actuator cylinder, exposing the internal rod and O-rings. The separation exposed a hole in the cylinder and a loss of hydraulic fluid followed, leaving the system unpressurized. The lack of system pressure resulted in the failure of the nose landing gear door actuator assembly and the subsequent gear-up landing. The retaining ring inside the actuator cannot be visibly inspected due to the position of the seat being recessed into the cylinder. The actuator does not have a specified overhaul time or cycle limit.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the flight after noticing gear indicator issue.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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