| Crash location | 35.138611°N, 92.909167°W |
| Nearest city | Morrilton, AR
35.150917°N, 92.744054°W 9.4 miles away |
| Tail number | N22432 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 04 Feb 2003 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 210L |
| Additional details: | None |
On February 4, 2003, at approximately 1400 central standard time, a Cessna 210L single-engine airplane, N22432, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a gear-up landing on Runway 21 at the Petit Jean Park Airport, near Morrilton, Arkansas. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated at 1345 from Ozark, Arkansas.
The 2,000-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that he "lowered" the landing gear handle to configure the aircraft for landing at Morrilton. According to the pilot, the gear began to extend and then stopped. The pilot checked the circuit breaker that controlled the electric hydraulic pump, and found it to be engaged. He then cycled the gear switch to no avail. The pilot flew over the airport and received visual confirmation from ground personnel that the nose landing gear was in the down position, but both main landing gear were "half way down." After attempting to use the emergency landing gear hand pump to no avail, the pilot elected to perform a gear-up landing on the grass. Upon touchdown, the left wing tip touched the ground and the aircraft spun 180 degrees. The aircraft collided with the airport fence, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and the horizontal stabilizer.
A review of the aircraft logbook revealed that the last annual inspection was completed on July 5, 2002, and on February 5, 2002, the hydraulic power pack was overhauled.
Examination of the aircraft by the pilot revealed the presence of hydraulic fluid in and around the nose landing gear wheel well. Upon closer examination, the flex line to the nose gear hydraulic cylinder was observed to be chaffed and ruptured. The ruptured flex line allowed the hydraulic fluid to be pumped overboard and rendered both the electric primary pump and the hand operated emergency pump inoperative.
The failure of the main landing gear to extend and lock, as a result of a hydraulic fluid leak caused by a chaffed and ruptured flex line.