20021113034049A

(.19) On November 13, 2002, at 1539 pacific standard time, a Cessna T210L, N76TL, experienced a loss of engine power on final for runway 12, at the Whiteman Airport (whp), pacoima, California. The airplane landed short of the airport on a 4-lane city street and sustained substantial damage during a collision with trees, two cars, and several road signs. The pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 as a maintenance check flight. The pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. The driver of one car, and a worker from a car lot also received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed whp about 1500. The airplane came to rest on a pole at a corner car lot, at the intersection of san fernando road and penny road. The airplane and debris came to rest on a magnetic bearing of 177 degrees. The nose of the airplane struck a park car. First responders to the site noted fuel leaking from the engine area prior to the post impact fire. In an interview with the safety board, the passenger stated that the flight was to test the autopilot system. The pilot had asked him if he (the passenger) wanted to fly with him for about 40 minutes while he tested out the autopilot. The passenger stated that they flew out towards the mojave desert. The passenger stated that the engine began to run rough while they were on final, and the pilot tried to get the "power back by moving the controls." The passenger stated that he didn't remember anything after that. (-23) aircraft crashed about .4 mile from the approach end of whp on 11/13/2002 at approx. 15:40 PDT, aircraft was turning base leg to final approach when the engine quit. With the landing gear and flaps down it clipped a small tree near the railroad tracks and san fernando rd. and pinney st. aircraft hit the ground in the dirt between the tracks and san fernando rd. collapsing the nose gear, and crushing the lower firewall. It continued across san fernando rd. for approx. 133' sticking a car with it's right wing tip that was waiting to turn right onto san fernando rd. a stop sign on pinney st. aircraft then went up the curb across the sidewalk and plowed into several 4' high posts and a parked truck in a used car parking lot. The left wing leading edge struck a light pole compromising the fuel tank. A small fire started under the aircraft in the area of the firewall that caused considerable damage to the fwd fuselage, the interior, and bottom of the right wing. There were no burn marks or melted metal around the area of the ruptured left fuel tank or on the truck that was directly under the left wing. The majority of the fire damage was in the area of the lower right firewall, and the under side of the right wing at the wing root, the right wing fuel tank was intact and when the wing was removed during recovery of the wreckage there was no fuel present in the fuel line between the wing and the fuselage. Aileron control was verified, but the rudder and elevator control continuity could not be, due to the damage of the lower firewall, nose wheel steering system and rudder pedals. The propeller control was full high RPM and the mixture control was full rich and the throttle control was almost full power. The fuel selector was in the right position. The gear handle was in the down position. Flight control trim position indicators could not be read due to fire damage, but the elevator trim tab was in the slight nose up position. Due to impact damage to the engine mount structure and the nose wheel well, the engine was virtually removed from the firewall.