No fatalities

17 Mar 2014: CESSNA 210N — Marathon, FL

Marathon, FL, United States

On 17 Mar 2014, a CESSNA 210N was involved in an aviation accident near Marathon, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure that the airplane's landing gear was down and locked prior to touchdown. Contributing to the accident was the possibility of intermittent landing gear operation due to a faulty hydraulic power pack contactor. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a simulated engine-out visual approach, the main landing gear retracted after touchdown, causing substantial damage. Postaccident examination revealed a faulty hydraulic power pack contactor leading to intermittent gear extension.

Accident Description

The pilot reported practicing a simulated engine-out visual approach to the asphalt runway. On short final, he extended the landing gear and believed it was down and locked. However, after touchdown, both the left and right main landing gear retracted into their respective wheel-wells. A witness at the airport observed that the airplane's main landing gear was not fully extended when the airplane touched down on the runway.

The pilot stated that he did not hear the aural landing gear warning horn prior to landing and did not recall if the green landing gear position indicator lights were illuminated before touchdown. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer.

Postaccident Examination

Initial postaccident examination of the airplane included a check of the landing gear warning system and a landing gear retraction test, revealing no anomalies. Subsequent additional examination involved multiple landing gear extension-retraction cycles, which revealed a faulty hydraulic power pack contactor. This fault resulted in intermittent extension of the landing gear.

Checklist Item

Review of the airplane's pilot operating handbook, normal procedures, before landing checklist included: "4. Landing Gear – CHECK (observe main gear down and green indicator light on)."

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotIncorrect use/operation

Other contributing factors

Malfunction