CHI01LA309

Factual narrative

On August 16, 2001, at 1800 central daylight time, a Cessna T210N, N6410N, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a wheels-up landing on runway 26 (4,387 feet by 100 feet, concrete) at the Hector International Airport, Fargo, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The flight departed from the Wething Field Airport, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The pilot reported in a written statement, "Departed DTL at approximately 4:00pm central time direct Fargo. Contacted Fargo approach [and] tower. Experienced electrical failure upon gear retraction on 10 mile final and gear did not fully retract. Tried to pump manually [and] gear handle stuck after 1 1/2 pumps. Landed on runway 26 at Hector Field. Nose wheel was fully retracted and locked. Main gear failed but remained down under belly approximately 6 [inches]. Maintained aircraft on runway and it did not roll until stopped, where it settled on the right elevator." Inspection of the emergency gear handle revealed that it was not fully extended. No anomalies were noted when the airplane was placed on jacks following the accident and the landing gear was cycled using the airplane's battery power. The airplane's information manual states to extend the emergency hand pump handle if the landing gear fails to extend. The airplane was substantially damaged during a wheels-up landing following an in-flight electrical failure. The pilot stated that the emergency gear handle became stuck after 1 1/2 pumps of the handle. Postaccident inspection of the handle reveled it not to be fully extended. The airplane was placed on jacks and the landing gear was cycled using battery power. Emergency procedures state that the emergency landing gear hand pump handle is to be extended if the landing gear fails to extend. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12