NTSB Factual Report

On July 29, 2002, at 1910 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna R182, N7592Y, sustained substantial damage following a wheels up landing at Pierce County-Thun Field, Puyallup, Washington. The airplane was being operated by Clover Park Technical College, Lakewood, Washington, as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. The first pilot, a commercial pilot/certified flight instructor, and the second pilot, a private pilot receiving instruction, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight.

Personnel from Clover Park Technical College reported that this was the aircraft's first flight following an annual inspection. Additionally, post maintenance operational checks were to be conducted in conjunction with the instructional flight.

In a written statement dated July 29, 2002, the first pilot reported that he was unable to acquire a down and locked status for the left main while attempting to lower the landing gear. The gear down indicator light (green) illuminated, however, a visual check of the landing gear revealed that the left main was not in the down and locked position. Multiple attempts by the pilots to lower the left main gear proved unsuccessful.

Subsequent to the unsuccessful attempts to lower the gear, the pilot elected to land the airplane with the gear in the up position. The airplane touched down in a grassy area adjacent to runway 34. The first pilot stated that the airplane slid to a stop and they exited the airplane without injury.

Postaccident examination of the landing gear system revealed that the left main wheel brake line caught on the wheel well structure during the extension cycle of the landing gear. The brake line rotated from its normal position, allowing it to catch on the airframe and restrict the movement of the left main landing gear.

A review of the maintenance records indicated that an annual inspection (performed by a contract maintenance facility [Spannaflight East] located at Thun Field) was conducted on May 28, 2002. Corresponding logbook entries for the inspection indicated that the airplane was found to be in an "unairworthy" condition, and a list of discrepancies were noted (attached). During the inspection, the brake calipers were removed and the wheel bearings regressed. Following the procedure, the calipers were reinstalled. At the conclusion of the inspection, the airplane was moved to Clover Park's maintenance facility. Maintenance personnel at Clover Park reported that the previously mentioned discrepancy items were repaired and the aircraft was returned to service.

It was noted that the landing gear inspection and retraction test was completed during the initial inspection; prior to the work being completed on the wheel bearings and prior to the aircraft being moved to Clover Park's facility. No additional inspections or functionality testing of the landing gear system were performed following the maintenance conducted by the staff at Clover Park College.

NTSB Probable Cause

Restricted movement of the left main landing gear resulting in the gear not extending for the landing. A misaligned brake line was a factor.