Cessna P210N N4873K

Summary

On 18 January 2004 at about 12:52 local time, a Cessna P210N registered N4873K was involved in an accident near Tucson, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 January 2004 at 12:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Tucson International (TUS)

Coordinates

32.1161, -110.9411

Aircraft

Cessna P210N

Registration

N4873K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tucson → Dallas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

LAX04LA108

Nobody was injured.

the failure of the electrical charging system and pilot's failure to verify that the gear was down-and-locked prior to the complete electrical system failure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the landing roll, the airplane's left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane collided with a taxiway sign. While en route to his destination, the battery warning light illuminated, indicating that the electrical system was not charging. The pilot performed the emergency checklist items; however, the alternator would not reset. The pilot then reversed course to return to the departure airport. The pilot turned off all nonessential electrical equipment in an attempt to conserve battery power. The pilot extended the landing gear and 10 degrees of flaps, then turned the master switch off. The pilot later told responding airport police officers that he did not wait for the gear enunciator lights to turn green indicating that the landing gear was down-and-locked before shutting off the electrical master switch. As the airplane approached the airport, the pilot turned the master switch back on, but the battery had fully drained. The pilot said that he was unsure if the gear were down and locked so on final approach he pumped the emergency gear extension handle. During the landing roll, the left main gear collapsed. Post accident examination of the electrical system revealed that the main alternator field wire and power wire terminals were broken due to a vibration of the alternator. The alternator was not secure on its mounting bracket due to fretting on the forward portion of the alternator bracket housing, which had enlarged the holes into an oval shape. When the alternator and bracket were touched, the entire assembly would move.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.