N211LCCessna T210L · 1974

On October 14, 2009, at 1545 mountain standard time, a Cessna T210L, N211LC, sustained substantial damage during landing roll out at Albuquerque Sunport International Airport (ABQ), Albuquerque, New Mexico, after the landing gear failed to extend shortly after departure from Sandia Airpark Estates (1N1), Edgewood, New Mexico. The commercial rated pilot/registered owner was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to the pilot, the airplane had just undergone extensive maintenance and an annual inspection, which included several landing gear retraction and emergency gear extension tests. The pilot spent two days preparing the airplane for its first flight after this maintenance had been completed, which included correcting some cracked panels, securing loose trim, properly placing placards,and making sure paperwork was in order.

Prior to the accident flight, the pilot performed a 1-hour preflight inspection and the fluid level in the hydraulic pump was "adequate" if not a "little overfull." He then started the engine and taxied to the maintenance facility for a some final inspections, which included placards, and panel fixes. When this was completed, the pilot taxied to the runway, performed an engine run-up, and departed.

The pilot reported that when he retracted the landing gear, the process began normally, and the hydraulic pump sounded normal. Then the noise stopped and the "gear-up" light did not illuminate. He then tried to extend the gear and nothing happened. The pilot referenced an inspection mirror on the right wing an realized that all three landing gear were "dangling" or dragging" in between the up and down position.

The pilot stabilized the airplane and used his cell phone to call Cessna Aircraft Company. An engineer provided trouble-shooting techniques, but the pilot was unable to secure the gear in the down and locked position.

The pilot made a partial gear-up landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The left wing tip and an antenna were also damaged.

The airplane had been modified with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC#: SA5737SW) in 1987, which removed the main landing gear doors and replaced them with fairings. As a result, some of the landing gear hydraulic lines were capped. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector performed a post-accident examination of the airplane and found a hydraulic line in the landing gear system that was not properly capped and was leaking. The line was then re-capped and several gear extension/retraction tests were successfully performed.

Shortly after takeoff and following the landing gear retraction, the pilot realized he failed to remove the tow-bar from the airplane's nose landing gear. After multiple failed attempts to extend the airplane's nose landing gear, the pilot elected to retract the main landing gear and perform a gear-up landing. The airplane's fuselage and right aileron sustained damage during the landing.