Accident Overview
On October 14, 2009, at 1545 mountain standard time, a Cessna T210L, registration N211LC, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll out at Albuquerque Sunport International Airport (ABQ), Albuquerque, New Mexico. The aircraft had just departed from Sandia Airpark Estates (1N1), Edgewood, New Mexico, when the landing gear failed to extend. The commercial-rated pilot, who was also the registered owner, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Preflight and Maintenance Background
According to the pilot, the airplane had recently undergone extensive maintenance and an annual inspection, which included multiple landing gear retraction and emergency gear extension tests. The pilot spent two days preparing the airplane for its first flight after maintenance, correcting cracked panels, securing loose trim, placing placards, and ensuring paperwork was in order. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot performed a 1-hour preflight inspection, noting that the hydraulic pump fluid level was "adequate" if not a "little overfull." After starting the engine, the pilot taxied to the maintenance facility for final inspections, then proceeded to the runway for an engine run-up and departure.
Inflight Gear Failure
The pilot reported that when he retracted the landing gear, the process began normally, and the hydraulic pump sounded normal. However, the noise then stopped, and the "gear-up" light did not illuminate. When the pilot attempted to extend the gear, nothing happened. Using an inspection mirror on the right wing, he observed that all three landing gear were "dangling" or "dragging" in an intermediate position between up and down.
Attempted Troubleshooting and Landing
The pilot stabilized the airplane and used his cell phone to contact Cessna Aircraft Company. An engineer provided trouble-shooting techniques, but the pilot was unable to secure the gear in the down-and-locked position. The pilot subsequently made a partial gear-up landing, resulting in substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, left wing tip, and an antenna.
Post-Accident Examination
The airplane had been modified in 1987 with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC#: SA5737SW), which removed the main landing gear doors and replaced them with fairings, leading to some landing gear hydraulic lines being capped. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed a post-accident examination and found a hydraulic line in the landing gear system that was not properly capped and was leaking. The line was re-capped, and several gear extension and retraction tests were then successfully performed.