Horseshoe Bay, TX, USA
N866BS
CESSNA 421
The pilot reported that when he lowered the landing gear handle, he heard a loud bang. He stated that the nosewheel landing gear did not appear to be extended and that he could not be see it using the nacelle mirror. In addition, the green landing gear position lights did not illuminate. The pilot went through the emergency checklist and followed the manual landing gear extension procedure. During the landing, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. An examination revealed that the drive mechanism for the gearbox motor had failed. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
On April 22, 2014, at 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 421 airplane, N866BS, was substantially damaged when the landing gear collapsed while landing at Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport (KDZB), Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was not injured. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The cross country flight departed San Antonio International Airport (KSAT), San Antonio, Texas, approximately 1400 and was en route to KDZB. The pilot reported that when he lowered the landing gear handle he heard a loud "bang." He stated that the nose wheel landing gear did not appear to be extended and could not be seen using the nacelle mirror. In addition, the green landing gear position lights did not illuminate. The pilot went through the emergency checklist and followed the manual landing gear extension procedure; however, the nose gear did not extend. During the landing to runway 35, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded on the runway with only the nose landing gear extended. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident reported that the bulkhead of the fuselage was substantially damaged. In addition, he stated that the drive mechanism for the gearbox motor had failed. An examination of the remaining systems revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The failure of the drive mechanism for the gearbox motor, which resulted in the gear not extending for the landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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