Reading Regional/Carl A Spaatz Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Reading, Pennsylvania 19605
Thursday, August 8, 2002 19:23 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While entering the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to lower the landing gear, but was unable to do so. He reset the popped landing gear motor circuit breaker, and attempted a manual gear extension. He performed a tower fly-by, and was advised that the nose landing gear was down, but the main landing gear were up. The pilot then made an approach to the runway, shut down the engine prior to touch-down, and landed "nose high." The nose landing gear remained extended until the airplane slid to a stop. Post-flight examination of the airplane revealed that a hydraulic fluid line had separated from its landing gear motor fitting. The line exhibited no evidence of mechanical damage. The diameter of the separated end was slightly larger than the fitting. The line was installed when the airplane was manufactured. The airplane had accumulated 2,100 hours of operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Separation of a hydraulic line from its landing gear motor fitting.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/2002
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1923
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Reading
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19605
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 402243N
Event Location Longitude 0755756W
Event Location Airport Reading Regional/Carl A Spaatz
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RDG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 344
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1854 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID RDG
Elevation of weather observation facility 344
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13849
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 8 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2003 8:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Allentown

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N21PL
NTSB Number NYC02LA158
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model R182
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number R18201983
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 2100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Bronco Partners, Ltd.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Wilmington
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19801
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John Dolbin
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Pottsville
Operator State PA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 17901
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RDG
Departure City Reading
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 5B2
Destination City Saratoga Spring
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jun 23 2003 10:04PM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 6350
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --