Event DEN00LA033

Factual narrative

On July 16, 1999, at 1100 mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N6029N, sustained substantial damage during a partial landing gear retracted landing at Cedar City, Utah. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal cross-country flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Salt Lake City, Utah at 0930, with an intended destination of Saint George, Utah. According to information provided by the pilot, the flight was over flying Cedar City when all electrical power was lost due to an alternator failure. The pilots' attempts to lower the landing gear via the alternate method resulted in the nose landing gear being extended and the main landing gear remaining in the retracted position. During the ensuing emergency landing, damage was incurred which necessitated replacement of the horizontal stabilizers and elevators. According to a mechanic who examined the aircraft, the electrical failure was due to a fault in the alternator. The mechanic provided an opinion that a check valve in the landing gear hydraulic system may not have operated properly and this could have prevented alternate lowering of the main landing gear. Procedures in the airplane operating manual (applicable pages attached), stated that "if the landing gear fails to extend via the alternate method electrical power should be turned off by securing the avionics power and master switches and another attempt should be made. After extension, the switches should be turned back on to verify landing gear position." Based on a telephone interview with the pilot and information provided in writing, the pilot did not follow these procedures. While in cruise flight, electrical power was lost due to an alternator failure. The pilot elected to conduct a precautionary landing at an airport short of his destination. When he lowered the landing gear, the nose gear extended and locked down and the main landing gear remained in the up position. The pilot attempted to lower the main landing gear by the alternate method but failed to follow the complete procedure and the mains remained in the up position. He landed the aircraft with the nose landing gear extended and the mains retracted. During the landing sequence, the aircraft incurred damage to horizontal stabilizers and elevators. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12