Accident Details
On July 20, 2011, at approximately 1325 central daylight time, a Cessna T210L, registration N2056S, experienced a collapsed right main landing gear during landing at Columbia Regional Airport (COU) in Columbia, Missouri. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. Operated by Atlatl LLC under 14 CFR Part 91 as a business flight, the aircraft was on a visual approach to runway 20 (6,501 feet by 150 feet, concrete) under visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.
Landing Gear Malfunction
According to the pilot, while on a visual approach about 3 miles from the airport, he moved the landing gear handle to the down position. The gear extended, but the indicator lights did not show a locked-down condition, and he heard the hydraulic pump running. He cycled the gear two more times, then six additional cycles, but the gear still would not lock down, and the hydraulic pump stopped making sound. He then operated the emergency gear pump handle 75–100 times, which became very stiff. Air traffic control personnel observed the gear extended, but cockpit indications still showed unlocked. During final approach, he pumped the emergency handle many more times without achieving a locked condition.
Upon touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane departed the runway and stopped near the intersection of taxiway A2 and runway 20, striking and breaking off the hold short sign at taxiway A2.
Postaccident Findings
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, postaccident repair (conducted by a different maintenance facility than the one performing the last annual inspection) indicated that a lack of lubrication resulted in the main landing gear not locking down. Several items—bolts, pins, and bushings—were cleaned, lubricated, and adjusted, after which the landing gear functioned normally. The airplane subsequently flew several times without further incident.
An airframe maintenance logbook entry dated November 12, 2010, noted the aircraft received an annual inspection at a tachometer time of 205.1 hours and total time of 11,080.8 hours. The entry stated, "Jacked aircraft serviced landing gear system..." and listed replacement of all downlock hydraulic hoses and a right-hand landing gear actuator fitting.