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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

November 16, 2007 · Cessna 210L · N987M

Santa Barbara, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 16, 2007
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 210L
Tail Number
N987M
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
SEA08LA028

Prior to landing the pilot confirmed that the landing gear was down and locked. During the landing roll the airplane began to veer left, followed by the left main landing gear collapsing. The airplane came to rest upright on the left side of the runway with its left elevator resting on the runway's surface. A post-accident examination revealed that the left main landing gear down limit switch plunger was bent and stuck in the closed position, falsely indicating that the left main landing gear was locked down. The examination further revealed that the two hydraulic hoses to the downlock actuator were making contact with the airplane's skin, binding the downlock from fully opening to allow the down limit switch to clear the striker plate during the down cycle. The two hoses were subsequently repositioned to eliminate the binding, which resulted in the landing gear operating normally. It was not determined how the switch had become bent. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane prior to the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The left main landing gear's down limit switch plunger being bent and stuck in the closed position, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear during the landing roll. The reason for the down limit switch plunger being bent could not be determined.

Full Narrative

On November 16, 2007, about 1340 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 210L, N987M, sustained substantial damage as a result of a left main landing gear collapse during landing roll at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), Santa Barbara, California. The certificated private pilot and his sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight, which was conducted in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had departed the Chino Municipal Airport (CNO), Chino, California, about 1230. The pilot reported that prior to landing he completed the [before] landing checklist and observed the landing gear annunciator light indicating a safe down and locked condition. The pilot stated that during the landing roll the airplane began to veer to the left, followed by the left main landing gear collapsing. The airplane came to rest in an upright position on the north side of the runway, with the left elevator having sustained substantial damage as a result of impacting the runway's surface. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane prior to the flight. A post-accident examination of the landing gear's extension/retraction system by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, revealed that the left main landing gear down limit switch plunger was bent and stuck in the closed position. The inspector reported that it was observed that the two hydraulic lines to the downlock actuator were in a binding position, preventing the downlock from fully opening to allow the down limit switch to clear the striker plate during the down/extension cycle. The two hoses were subsequently repositioned, which eliminated the binding and resulted in the landing gear operating normally during the extension cycle. The reason for the down limit switch plunger being bent could not be determined. The pilot reported no anomalies existed with the airplane prior to the flight.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:40 PST
Nearest AirportSanta Barbara Municipal (0nm)
Runway07
Runway Length6055 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210L
Tail NumberN987M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsTeledyne Continental · TSIO-520-H4B · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 56 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 55
Altimeter29.97 inHg
Observation Time21:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data