Gear-up landing of Cessna 210L at Nelspruit aerodrome

Casualties unknown • Runway 22 at Nelspruit aerodrome, ZA

A private flight involving a Cessna 210L resulted in a wheels-up landing at Nelspruit aerodrome after the pilot failed to extend the landing gear.

What happened

On 11 December 2014, a Cessna 210L, registration ZS-NUL, was conducting a private flight from Lanseria aerodrome to Nelspruit aerodrome. During the flight, the pilot discovered that the aircraft's press-to-talk (PTT) button was missing, necessitating the use of a handheld microphone for radio communications.

During the landing sequence on Runway 22, the aircraft experienced a wheels-up landing. While the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and the underside of the fuselage, there were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers on board.

The investigation

SACAA AIID investigators examined the cockpit environment and the pilot's actions leading up to the impact. The investigation established that the pilot was using a handheld microphone because of the faulty PTT button. The microphone cable was draped around the cockpit controls.

During the second approach, the pilot moved the microphone, but the cable caught on the controls, creating a physical sensation that the pilot mistook for the movement of the landing gear lever. Furthermore, the pilot was wearing corrective lenses that were not suitable for the flight, which hindered his ability to visually verify the gear position. A passenger had also previously confirmed a green gear light, which may have contributed to a false sense of security. Post-accident testing confirmed that the landing gear and the warning systems were fully functional and that the error was not due to mechanical failure.

Findings

  • The pilot failed to select the landing gear down during the final approach.
  • The use of a handheld microphone with a cable draped around the controls caused a tactile error, where the pilot confused the movement of the microphone with the gear selector lever.
  • The pilot was using unsuitable eyewear, which impaired his visual inspection of the cockpit instruments.
  • The aircraft was mechanically sound, with all landing gear retraction and warning systems operating normally.
  • While light drizzle was present at the time of the accident, weather conditions were not a contributing factor.

Probable cause

The pilot failed to extend the landing gear prior to landing on Runway 22, leading to a wheels-up impact, compounded by a tactile error involving a handheld microphone cable and impaired vision due to unsuitable corrective lenses.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2014-12-11 Cessna 210L accident near Runway 22 at Nelspruit aerodrome, ZA?

A private flight involving a Cessna 210L resulted in a wheels-up landing at Nelspruit aerodrome after the pilot failed to extend the landing gear.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2014-12-11 involved a Cessna 210L, registration ZS-NUL, at Runway 22 at Nelspruit aerodrome, ZA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot failed to extend the landing gear prior to landing on Runway 22, leading to a wheels-up impact, compounded by a tactile error involving a handheld microphone cable and impaired vision due to unsuitable corrective lenses.

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