# Incident 19980322027509I: Cessna T210F, Cotulla, TX, March 22, 1998

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 22, 1998, 12:30 local time
- Place: Cotulla, TX
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.4364° N, 99.2367° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cotulla, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4364&lon=-99.2367&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6109R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6109R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna T210F (registry code 2073422, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental TSIO-520 series (registry code 17040, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210F
- Reported engine: CONT TSIO520C
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 200 total, 30 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980322027509I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MARCH 22, 1998, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:30 LOCAL TIME, A CESSNA 210-F, N6109R, MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING APPROXIMATELY 18 MILES SOUTH OF COTULLA, TEXAS FOLLOWING A CATASTROPHIC IN FLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT ON A PRIVATE RANCH STRIP. THE PRIVATE AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AIRCRAFT WAS ENROUTE FROM LAREDO, TEXAS TO SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT 5500 FEET WHEN A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE WAS OBSERVED FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRCRAFT SAFELY WITHOUT VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME. AN ON SITE INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED TWO LARGE HOLES IN THE UPPER CRANKCASE SURFACE APPROXIMATELY THREE INCHES IN DIAMETER. ADDITIONALLY, THE NUMBER FIVE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND SEPERATED FROM THE CRANKCASE. A PORTION OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE BELLY WERE COVERED IN ENGINE OIL. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND SHIPPED TO TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS (TCM), THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER, FOR FAILURE ANALYSIS. TCM REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FORWARD RIGHT HAND CYLINDER TO THE ENGINE CRANKCASE WAS NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQU UE. INSUFFICIENT TORQUE ALLOWED THE CYLINDER HOLD DOWN NUTS TO BACK AND EVENTUALLY ALLOWED THE ENTIRE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FROM THE ENGINE CASE. A SIMILAR CONDITION EXISTED ON THE MIDDLE RIGHT HAND CYLINDER (CYLINDER NO. 3). THE CYLINDER ATTACHING HARDWARE WAS FOUND LOOSE; HOWEVER THE CONDITION HAD NOT PROGRESSED TO THE PILOT OF TOTAL SEPERATION. THE TCM REPORT ALSO STATED THAT THE CYLINDER ATTACHING STUDS WERE RUSTY AND THAT THIS WOULD PREVENT PROPER TORQUE. THE MANUFACTURES INSTRUCTIONS REQUIRE THE USE OF ENGINE OIL ON STUD THREADS TO ACHIEVE PROPER TORQUE.

## Other reports on N6109R (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20170731010219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170731010219A), Jul 31, 2017: Cessna T210F (N6109R), Llano, CA, Substantial damage. On 07/31/2017, at 1735 PDT, N6109R, a Cessna 210A, enroute from modesto, CA to hemet, CA, lost engine oil pressure. An emergency was declared, and N6109R…
- [Accident 19740607033169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740607033169A), Jun 7, 1974: Cessna T210F (N6109R), Buena Vista, Substantial damage. Invest under jurisdiction of govt of Mexico.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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