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NTSB Report

June 12, 2005 · Cessna 210 · N9457T

Watsonville, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 12, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Watsonville, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 210
Tail Number
N9457T
Operator
Robert Bonahoom
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX05LA198

The airplane landed gear up. The pilot reported that he put the gear handle in the down position as he was crossing over the field to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 20. At this time he noticed that the green landing gear annunciator light had illuminated. Due to the high level of traffic in the pattern, the pilot did not look into the mirrors to visually check if the landing gear had deployed successfully like he usually does. During the landing flare, the airplane's tail impacted the runway causing the airplane to bounce. The tail came down and impacted the runway again. Shortly thereafter, the entire airplane spun off the runway to the left onto the grass separating the taxiway and the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after the accident occurred. He stated that the main landing gear doors were closed, and the main gear was in the fully retracted position. The nose wheel had partially extended. The FAA inspector interviewed several witnesses who heard the airplane's engine increase in power just prior to the landing. According to the Cessna 210 Owners Manual, the landing gear and doors operate in a specific sequence. Once the pilot places the gear position handle out of the neutral position, the engine driven hydraulic pump begins to create hydraulic pressure and transfers it to the hydraulic actuators, which operate the landing gear doors and landing gear. When the gear position handle is placed in the down position, the hydraulic pump supplies pressure to the door's actuators first, allowing the doors to open. Then, the hydraulic pressure will switch to the landing gear actuators, and the gear will extend. Once the landing gear has completed the extension, the hydraulic pressure will switch back to the door's actuators, and the doors will close. When the doors have completely closed, the gear position handle will return to the neutral position, completing the process.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing.

Full Narrative

On June 12, 2005, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210, N9457T, landed gear up at the Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI), Watsonville, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed the San Carlos Airport (SQL), San Carlos, California, about 1045. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that he put the gear position handle in the down position as he was crossing over the field to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 20. At this time he noticed that the green landing gear enunciator light had illuminated. Due to the high level of traffic in the pattern, the pilot did not look into the mirrors to visually check if the landing gear had deployed successfully like he usually does. During the landing flare, the airplane's tail impacted the runway causing the airplane to bounce. The tail came down and impacted the runway again. Shortly thereafter, the entire airplane spun off the runway to the left onto the grass separating the taxiway and the runway. The pilot stated that the main landing gear did not deploy. In a written statement, the pilot stated that the airplane was severely damaged. The prop bent, both of the wing tips bent, the elevator bent on both sides, the front wheel strut broke, the undercarriage was damaged, and the fuselage buckled. In a telephone conversation, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that he examined the airplane after the accident occurred. He stated that the main landing gear doors were closed, and the main gear was in the retracted position. The nose wheel had partially extended. In his interview, the FAA inspector stated that witnesses to the accident heard the airplane's engine increase in power just prior to the landing. According to the Cessna 210 Owners Manual, the landing gear and doors operate in a specific sequence. Once the pilot places the gear position handle out of the neutral position, the engine driven hydraulic pump begins to create hydraulic pressure and transfers it to the hydraulic actuators, which operate the landing gear doors and landing gear. When the gear position handle is placed in the down position, the hydraulic pump supplies pressure to the door's actuators first, allowing the doors to open. Then, the hydraulic pressure will switch to the landing gear actuators, and the gear will extend. Once the landing gear has completed the extension, the hydraulic pressure will switch back to the door's actuators, and the doors will close. When the doors have completely closed, the gear position handle will return to the neutral position, completing the process.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 PDT
Nearest AirportWatsonville Municipal Airport (0nm)
Runway20
Runway Length4501 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210
Tail NumberN9457T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRobert Bonahoom
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-470 E · Reciprocating · 460
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 57 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 52
Altimeter29.90 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data