N610KCCessna T210N · 1981

On November 24, 2014, about 1107 eastern standard time, a Cessna T210N, N610KC, experienced a left main landing gear collapse and runway excursion during landing at Peter O. Knight Airport (TPF), Tampa, Florida. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, and the left wing tip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the aerial observation flight that departed Bartow Municipal Airport (BOW), Bartow, Florida, about 1030. The airplane was registered to and operated by U.S. Imaging Inc under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.The pilot reported that the he entered a left base and about 4 miles from the airport he extended the landing gear to the "DOWN" position. He observed the green landing gear indicator light, which indicated that the landing gear was in the down and locked position. He further reported that at no time during the approach, did the gear audible warning horn sound to alert the pilot of an unsafe landing gear condition. After touchdown he felt "the left side of the plane sink" and he immediately applied full power. However, due to the insufficient airspeed he decided to perform the "emergency landing." He further reported that no work had been performed to the landing gear prior to the accident.

Initial examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the landing gear handle was in the "DOWN" position and the nose landing gear and right main landing gear were extended and in the locked positions. The airplane was raised and the left main landing gear extended and locked into place. The airplane was subsequently towed to a ramp.

A follow-on examination of the airplane's landing gear system by another FAA inspector revealed that the gear retraction and extension system operated as intended. During the examination the gear horn was audibly observed sounding regardless of the throttle position. No other abnormalities or malfunctions were detected that would have precluded normal operation.

Examination of airport security video revealed the airplane crossing the runway threshold while still in flight about 1107. The video revealed the airplane's main landing gear was down; however, it could not be conclusively determined if it was "locked" into place. Immediately after touchdown, the left side of the airplane was observed settling to the runway. Approximately 1 second later, the airplane became airborne again and continued out of the camera's recordable view. A second security camera recording captured the airplane on the paved portion of the runway in a left wing low attitude. The airplane continued down the runway until veering to the left, facing the camera, and coming to rest.