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NTSB Report

August 20, 2019 · Cessna T210 M · N501SF

Eugene, OR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 20, 2019
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Eugene, OR
Aircraft
Cessna T210 M (1977)
Tail Number
N501SF
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR19LA237

Shortly after departing on a solo flight, at an altitude of about 3,000 ft mean sea level, the student pilot detected smoke in the cockpit. He immediately returned to the departure airport and landed gear up, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot stated that he chose to land with the gear up because he believed the airplane was on fire and “…just wanted to get the airplane on the ground.” The pilot did not report any other mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed that the electric motor that powered the hydraulic power pack likely remained powered after the landing gear had been retracted. When the motor failed to shut off, it overheated and burned out, which likely resulted in smoke entering the cockpit. The reason for the motor anomaly could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the landing gear electric motor to shut off after landing gear retraction, which resulted in the motor overheating, burning out, and producing smoke in the cockpit. The pilot’s decision to land with the landing gear retracted resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

Full Narrative

On August 20, 2019, about 1435 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210M airplane, N501SF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Eugene, Oregon. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot reported that the accident flight was his third supervised solo flight. Shortly after departure, at an altitude of about 3,000 ft mean sea level, he smelled smoke in the cockpit. He returned to the departure airport, where he performed a gear-up landing, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot mentioned that he elected not to attempt to lower the landing gear with the landing gear selector switch, nor to utilize the emergency landing gear extension procedure. The pilot stated, “I thought I was on fire and just wanted to get the airplane on the ground.” An examination by a mechanic revealed that the electric motor that powered the hydraulic power pack pump for the landing gear was still powered after the accident. The mechanic stated that he believed the motor did not shut off during the gear retraction and that this would have caused it to overheat and burn out, resulting in smoke in the cockpit. He was not able to determine why the motor failed to shut off as designed. The pilot did not report any additional mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:35 PDT
Nearest AirportMahlon Sweet Field Airport (1nm)
Runway16
Runway Length8009 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna T210 M
Tail NumberN501SF
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental Motors · TSIO-520-R9 · Reciprocating · 310
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 46 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C
Altimeter29.83 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data