NTSB Factual Report

On July 16, 2002, about 1115 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N761HP, impacted rough terrain and vegetation after veering off the runway during landing rollout at the Nevada County Air Park, Grass Valley, California. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot, who owned and operated the airplane, nor two of the three passengers were injured. The fourth passenger sustained a minor injury. The personal flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated about 4 hours earlier from Hailey, Idaho, at 0814 mountain daylight time.

According to the airport manager and airplane maintenance/recovery personnel, the initial evidence of ground scar was observed on runway 25, about 2,500 feet upwind from the landing threshold. At this location black smudge marks were noted on the runway. The marks appeared consistent with a rubber transfer from the airplane's right main landing gear tire. Thereafter, additional marks and broken wheel components were noted on the runway that appear consistent with the breakage of the right landing gear wheel assembly. The airplane came to rest approximately 25 feet north of the runway's right side.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that his total flying experience was 1,059 hours, of which 168 hours were flown in the accident model of airplane. The pilot stated that he was familiar with the Nevada County Air Park. Upon entering a left-hand traffic pattern, he extended the wing flaps to the 20-degree position and made a normal approach. On the base leg, the flaps were additionally extended to the 30-degree position. The pilot indicated that the wind was from the southwest, and it was variable in direction and speed. Accordingly, he slightly increased his approach speed to 75 mph and touched down a little faster than normal. At the time, the airplane's longitudinal axis was nearly parallel with the runway's centerline, and the touchdown was not hard. When the landing gear contacted the runway surface, he heard a "metallic clank" sound. The pilot further reported that he immediately pulled aft on the yoke, and the airplane briefly became airborne. Seconds later, he allowed the airplane to settle back onto the runway to resume the landing. During rollout following the second touchdown, he lost directional control and the airplane departed the runway.

The airplane was recovered from the accident site and the right main landing gear McCauley wheel assembly was examined. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), upon disassembly the hub section was found broken at the inboard flange cap screws. The pilot reported he believed the hub was likely an original component, and its total time in service was 3,045.2 hours.

The FAA reported that the Cessna T210 series service manual indicates the landing gear main wheels should be removed and disassembled, and the components inspected every 50 hours. The FAA additionally reported that the airplane's maintenance records indicated it had been 4 years since new tires had been installed. There were no other maintenance entries to indicate that the wheel had been disassembled for inspection. An annual inspection was completed 9 months and 44 hours prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the right main landing gear wheel, which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control during landing rollout. A factor in the accident was the failure of maintenance personnel to inspect the wheel in accordance with maintenance manual instructions.