Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 210L near Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA — 2017-07-11

Final reportERA17LA239
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Date
2017-07-11
Location
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA, USA
Airport
AVP
Aircraft
CESSNA 210L
Registration
N732FJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

Failure of the left landing gear door actuator, which resulted in a loss of all hydraulic pressure and subsequent gear collapse on landing.

NTSB narrative

After takeoff, the pilot placed the landing gear handle in the up position; the gear started to retract, but the cycle never completed. The pilot attempted to recycle the gear back into the down position without success and subsequently used the manual emergency landing gear extension hand pump without success. He discussed the situation with a mechanic, and they determined that there was likely no hydraulic fluid in the system and no corrective action to remedy the situation. The pilot diverted to a nearby airport and performed a tower flyby, which confirmed that the gear were down and dangling but not locked. Upon touchdown, the landing gear folded back. The airplane tilted left and skidded to a stop, which resulted in substantial damage to the left stabilizer, left elevator, and left wingtip. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left landing gear door actuator had failed, and hydraulic fluid was observed in and around the left landing gear well. Subsequent maintenance revealed that a c-clip that held a cap in place at the end of the actuator had failed, which resulted in the release of the hydraulic fluid and pressure and subsequently prevented the landing gear system, including the manual emergency landing gear extension hand pump, from operating. The failure of the actuator component released all hydraulic pressure from the system, and the landing gear could not be extended into the down-and-locked position, which resulted in a gear collapse upon landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked hydraulic fluid before takeoff to prevent gear failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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