Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On July 2, 2003, at 0830 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N761XE, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a precautionary landing at the Pitkin County Airport (ASE), Aspen, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and four passengers on board reported no injuries. The local flight originated at ASE, at 0800.

The pilot reported that on departure, he could not get the landing gear to retract. The pilot elected to terminate the flight and returned to the airport to land. The pilot said that during the landing, he attempted to set the airplane down "softly." On touchdown, the airplane's right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane spun around 180 degrees before coming to a stop on the runway.

An examination of the airplane showed the right horizontal stabilizer, spar and elevator bent upward and aft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the landing gear system showed that there was a loose wire in the landing gear handle, which sent a false indication to the right main gear actuator switch, causing the system to unlock the gear but not initiate landing gear retraction. An examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

The pilot reported that prior to the accident flight, he had maintenance performed on the landing gear indicator light. the failure of the landing gear actuator switch. Factors relating to the accident were the false landing gear indication, the precautionary landing, and the improper maintenance adjustment performed on the landing gear switch prior to the accident flight.