Event LAX97LA101

Factual narrative

On February 08, 1997, at 0955 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 210H, N6137F, lost control after landing with the left main landing gear retracted on runway 26 at the Big Bear City Airport, Big Bear City, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the certificated private was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight by the pilot/owner. The flight originated in El Monte, California, about 0900. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot indicated he remained in the traffic pattern after takeoff from the El Monte Airport. After completing three touch-and-go landings he departed the traffic pattern. He flew west over the City of Los Angeles and then turned eastbound to Big Bear City. The pilot indicated he had normal gear indications while landing. During the landing roll, the airplane settled on its left side. The left wing tip, left wing flap and aileron, left horizontal stabilizer, and the left elevator were damaged as the airplane slid off the runway. The airplane was examined by an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic. The left main landing gear was found retracted in the wheel well with the gear door closed. Further examination revealed the down limit switches were stuck and would illuminate the single landing gear down light inconsistent with the landing gear position. The A&P stated the switches appeared corroded and dirty. The A&P also stated the stuck switches would affect the sequence in which the landing gear operated; in that, once the nose was down the sequencing valve would transfer hydraulic pressure from the main gear actuators to the landing gear door actuators before the main gear was fully down in the locked position. The pilot/owner indicated the airplane was tied down outside on the El Monte Airport ramp and had only flown 10 hours since the annual inspection on February 16, 1996. The pilot had normal gear indications while landing. The airplane settled on its left side after the left main landing gear retracted into the wheel well during landing roll. The landing gear down limit switches were found stuck and appeared corroded and dirty. The stuck switches illuminated the landing gear down light, inconsistent with the landing gear position. They affected the sequence in which the landing gear operated, in that once the nose was down, the sequencing valve would transfer hydraulic pressure from the main gear actuators to the landing gear door actuators before the main landing gear would fully extend to the locked position. The airplane had been tied down outside on the airport ramp and had only flown 10 hours since the annual inspection, which was completed on 2/16/96. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12