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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 30, 2008 · Cessna 421C · N421PC

Mesa, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 30, 2008
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Mesa, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 421C
Tail Number
N421PC
Operator
Dry Force
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR09LA029

At the conclusion of the business flight, the pilot placed the landing gear selector in the down position. The gear did not extend. Then, the pilot attempted to extend the gear using the emergency procedure, and he was similarly unsuccessful. The pilot landed with the gear partially extended. The airplane swerved off the runway and was substantially damaged. An examination of the landing gear system revealed that an aluminum hydraulic line had ruptured at a 45-degree bend near the location of an Adel clamp. The subsequent loss of fluid rendered the primary and emergency gear extension systems inoperative.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Gear extension and retract sys-Damaged/degraded - C

Full Narrative

On October 29, 2008, about 1959 mountain standard time, a Cessna 421C, N421PC, experienced the collapse of its landing gear during rollout at the Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona. The airplane was owned and operated by Dry Force, Inc., Mesa. The airplane was substantially damaged, and neither the commercial certificated pilot nor four passengers were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the business flight, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it originated from San Diego, California, about 1737 Pacific daylight time. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that, at the conclusion of the flight on approach to Falcon Field, he placed the landing gear selector in the down position. Thereafter, he observed that the landing gear's green position light failed to illuminate for the left gear. The pilot attempted to lower the gear several times and finally attempted to extend the gear using the emergency "blow down" procedure. None of the procedures worked. The pilot landed on runway 22 with a partially extended landing gear. The airplane touched down softly on the runway, but substantial structural damage occurred as the airplane swerved off the runway and slid to a stop. Belly skin was punctured, and several ribs were bent upward. The pilot reported that he smelled a strong odor of hydraulic fluid in the cabin. An examination of the landing gear system revealed that an aluminum hydraulic line associated with the gear's operation had ruptured beneath an Adel clamp. There was a crack in the line at a 45-degree bend near this location. The pilot also reported that the emergency gear extension system was rendered inoperative when the hydraulic leak occurred. The total time on the airframe and broken line was about 4,113 hours.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:59 MST
Nearest AirportFalcon Field (0nm)
Runway22L
Runway Length5101 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421C
Tail NumberN421PC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDry Force
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GSTIO-520L · Reciprocating · 375 | Continental · GSTIO-520L · Reciprocating · 375
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightNight
WindCalm
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point41 C
Altimeter29.97 inHg
Observation Time02:59
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data