Cessna 310N N4196Q

Summary

On 18 January 2006 at about 14:00 local time, a Cessna 310N registered N4196Q was involved in an accident near Destin, Florida, United States. 4 people were 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 2006 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Destin, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Destin-Fort Walton Beach (DTS)

Coordinates

30.4000, -86.4714

Aircraft

Cessna 310N

Registration

N4196Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Griffin → Destin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA06LA048

Nobody was injured.

The down limit switch, which operates the landing gear mechanical stop, was bent in the up position and allowed the gear motor to continued to run, causing the gearbox to over-travel, pull on the landing gear rods, and retract the landing gear.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

In preparation for landing, the pilot lowered the landing gear and noted the three green DOWN AND LOCKED lights were illuminated. Shortly thereafter, he heard a "thump" which he thought originated from under the floor of the airplane. He then noted the nose landing gear light was still green, but the main gear lights had extinguished. The pilot proceeded with the landing and did not attempt to recycle the landing gear because he thought it might cause further damage. When the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear light illuminated but the left indicator light remained unlit. The pilot allowed the airplane to roll out and avoided braking and excessive steering inputs. About 200 feet from the taxiway turnoff, the left main landing gear collapsed. The left propeller struck the runway, stopping the engine, and the left wing and horizontal stabilizer also struck the runway. The airplane made a left sliding turn for about 150 feet before coming to a stop on the side of the runway. A post-accident examination by an A&P mechanic revealed the down limit switch, which operates the landing gear mechanical stop, had malfunctioned. The switch was found bent in the up position. The gear motor continued to run, causing the gearbox to over-travel and pull on the landing gear rods, retracting the landing gear.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.