Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On July 19, 20121, about 1900 mountain daylight time, the right main landing gear of a Cessna T210M, N311TM, failed to extend prior to landing at the City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (KCOS), Colorado Springs, Colorado. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Aerworthy Consulting, LLC, of Franktown, Colorado, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed and activated. The cross-country flight originated from Liberal (KLBL), Kansas, at 1621.

After the accident, the pilot reported to the NTSB that he lowered the landing gear in preparation for landing but did not get a GEAR SAFE green light. He visually confirmed that the right main landing gear had not extended fully. Red fluid was also noted on the landing gear. When the pilot made a low pass, control tower personnel confirmed the landing gear was not fully extended. The pilot then attempted to extend the gear manually but to no avail. After burning off most of the fuel in the right tank, the pilot landed on the left main landing gear. As the airplane slowed, it settled on the right wing tip and came to a halt. Post-accident examination revealed the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer spar were broken.

In a telephone conversation, the pilot said the last annual inspection of the airplane was performed on February 2, 2012, at a total time of 3,146 hours. At that time several, but not all, hydraulic lines were replaced.

Beegles Aircraft Service retrieved the airplane and transported it to their facility in Greeley, Colorado, for repair. They reported finding the right hand hydraulic main gear down lock actuator hose had failed. The hose appeared to have been an original installation. Other hydraulic lines had been replaced as there were three different styles of hoses noted. The failure of the right hydraulic main gear down-lock actuator hose in flight.