Cessna TR182 N4657S

Summary

On 6 August 2004 at about 21:00 local time, a Cessna TR182 registered N4657S was involved in an accident near Torrance, California, United States. 2 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

6 August 2004 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Torrance, California, United States

Nearest airport

Zamperini Field (KTOA)

Coordinates

33.8033, -118.3397

Aircraft

Cessna TR182

Registration

N4657S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Torrance → Carlsbad

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX04LA287

Nobody was injured.

A wheels up landing due to the failure of the hydraulic hose leading to the nose gear actuator, which depleted the hydraulic system of pressurized fluid.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot landed with the airplane's landing gear partially extended following a failure of a hydraulic supply line. While in cruise flight the pilot heard a bang from under the airplane, and at the same time the gear up light on the instrument panel went out. He cycled the landing gear switch with no effect. He then pumped the manual landing gear handle with no effect. The gear down light did not illuminate. The pilot decided to return to the airport, and after discussing the situation with the tower he landed with the nose gear down and the main gear about halfway down. Examination of the airplane revealed that a braided hydraulic line leading to the nose gear hydraulic actuator had separated and pulled out of its connector fitting. Red fluid was on the airplane's skin behind the nose gear. A review of the maintenance logbook revealed that the airplane had its annual inspection signed off on April 13, 2004. During that inspection one of the two nose gear hydraulic actuator lines had been replaced. The newly installed hydraulic line was not the one that failed. According to the manufacturer, the hydraulic hose for the nose gear is inspected "on condition" and replacement is at the discretion of the inspecting mechanic or the airplane owner.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.