What happened
On August 2, 2022, a Cessna 210-B, registration LV-HJT, was conducting a general aviation training flight departing from the Charata Aerodrome in the Chaco province of Argentina. After an initial period of flight, the pilot decided to return to the airfield. During the descent phase, the pilot performed the required checklists and attempted to extend the landing gear. However, the cockpit indicators failed to show that the gear was in the locked position.
In an attempt to rectify the situation, the pilot performed manual pumping of the landing gear mechanism, but the gear failed to secure. The pilot subsequently notified the aerodrome of the emergency and requested emergency services. During the landing roll, the main landing gear remained intact, allowing the pilot to maintain aerodynamic braking and keep the nose elevated. However, upon contact with the runway, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid approximately 12 and 120 meters along the runway axis, resulting in damage to the lower fuselage and a deformed propeller. The pilot exited the aircraft without injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical systems and historical maintenance records. The aircraft's landing gear is operated by a hydraulic-mechanical unit known as a Power Pack, which also controls the brakes, flaps, and gear. This system operates on a sequential logic, where specific sensors must confirm the completion of one movement (such as a gear door opening) before the next stage of the sequence can proceed.
Investigators reviewed the pilot's credentials and the aircraft's maintenance status, finding that the pilot held all necessary licenses and the aircraft possessed a valid airworthiness certificate. The investigation also noted that the aircraft had a history of a similar incident in 2003, which was attributed to a malfunction of the same Power Pack system.