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19971030045739A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Cessna P210N · Smoketown, PA · October 30, 1997

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
October 30, 1997 · 12:30 local
Place
Smoketown, PA
Phase of flight
Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N600WL
NTSB investigation
NTSBIAD98LA009
Reported as
Cessna P210N
Reported engine
Continental TSIO520P
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
680 total229 in this make and model
N600WLRegistered now · Cessna P210NS/N P21000409 · Built 1979Airframe modelCessna P210NEngine modelContinental TSIO-520 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4) The owner reported that the certificated flight instructor (CFI) was the pilot in command. The CFI, flying from the right front seat, stated that he was given an en route descent to 3,000 feet. Lowering the manifold pressure by 2 inches about every 2 minutes so as not to shock cool the engine, the CFI noticed the manifold pressure drop from 18 inches to 10 inches, and the engine did not respond to his inputs. The fuel selector valve was on the left tank and the fuel indicator displayed 1/4 tank. The CFI gave control of the airplane to the owner at about 2,500 feet MSL. The owner, estimated their altitude to be about 1,500 feet above ground level, focused on locating a suitable field for landing. The forced landing to a freshly plowed field resulted in the airplane flipping over during roll out. The fuel selector switch was found in the left tank position. No fuel was drained from the left tank and 11 gallons were drained from the right tank. No mechanical problems were found with the airframe or engine.

As the FAA filed it

(.4) THE OWNER REPORTED THAT THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND. THE CFI, FLYING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, STATED THAT HE WAS GIVEN AN EN ROUTE DESCENT TO 3,000 FEET. LOWERING THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE BY 2 INCHES ABOUT EVERY 2 MINUTES SO AS NOT TO SHOCK COOL THE ENGINE, THE CFI NOTICED THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE DROP FROM 18 INCHES TO 10 INCHES, AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND TO HIS INPUTS. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS ON THE LEFT TANK AND THE FUEL INDICATOR DISPLAYED 1/4 TANK. THE CFI GAVE CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE TO THE OWNER AT ABOUT 2,500 FEET MSL. THE OWNER, ESTIMATED THEIR ALTITUDE TO BE ABOUT 1,500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, FOCUSED ON LOCATING A SUITABLE FIELD FOR LANDING. THE FORCED LANDING TO A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE FLIPPING OVER DURING ROLL OUT. THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK POSITION. NO FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK AND 11 GALLONS WERE DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT TANK. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB IAD98LA009Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSmoketown, PAThe pilot in command's (CFI) improper management of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion of the selected tank and the subsequent loss of engine power.Oct 30, 1997 · Substantial damage