What happened
On August 21, 2017, a Cessna 210 (registration HK-5022) was operating a non-scheduled flight from Medellín to Nuquí, Colombia. While performing the landing configuration for an approach at Nuquí, the pilot noticed that the green landing gear indicators failed to illuminate. Although the main landing gear was visually confirmed to be down, the nose gear remained retracted.
After several unsuccessful attempts to cycle the gear, the pilot decided to return to the origin airport, Enrique Olaya Herrera in Medellín, to access emergency services. During the landing in Medellín, the aircraft touched down on its main wheels and traveled approximately 200 meters before the nose and propeller made contact with the runway surface. The impact caused the engine to stop abruptly. The pilot and five passengers evacuated the aircraft with the assistance of airport firefighters; no injuries were reported.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the nose gear and the maintenance history of the aircraft. Investigators examined the aircraft's recent maintenance records, noting that 50, 100, and 200-hour inspections had been completed just days prior to the event. The inspection of the wreckage revealed damage to the propeller tips, the engine exhaust manifold, and the nose gear bay doors due to friction with the asphalt.
Technical analysis identified that a fracture had occurred in the push and pull tube assembly terminal. The investigation also scrutinized the operator's maintenance manuals and the procedures used by the contracted maintenance workshop, specifically regarding inspection quality and the oversight of aircraft returned to service.