# Accident 20180721024739A: Cessna 210C, Blum, TX, July 21, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2018, 11:30 local time
- Place: Blum, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.0544° N, 97.3086° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0544&lon=-97.3086&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3611Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3611Y-2020-01-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 210C (registry code 2073412, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental I0-470 series (registry code 17027, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210C
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR I0-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,598 total, 605 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA287) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180721024739A

## Narrative

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

PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) OF N3611Y, A 1962 CESSNA 210C THAT IS REGISTERED TO THE PIC. THE PIC DEPARTED FROM GRANBURY REGIONAL AIRPORT (KGDJ) ON A DAY VFR FLIGHT TO HILLTOP LAKES AIRPORT (0TE4). PIC WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. PIC PREFLIGHT PLANNING INCLUDED CHECKING WEATHER UTILIZING ON-LINE SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE PICS RESIDENCE. WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE FLIGHT WERE FOUND TO BE VFR. THE PIC DID NOT FILE A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PREFLIGHT INCLUDED DRAINING A FUEL SAMPLE FROM EACH OF 5 DRAIN POINTS ON THE AIRPLANE; 2 WING TANK DRAINS, 2 LOW POINT DRAINS ON THE AIRCRAFT'S FUSELAGE BELLY, AND 1 MAIN FUEL STRAINER DRAIN. ALL SAMPLES WERE FOUND TO BE CLEAN OF CONTAMINANTS AND CONTAINED NO WATER. THE PIC CONFIRMED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN EACH FUEL TANK BY USE OF A CLEAR HOLLOW FUEL DIPSTICK. THE AIRPLANE'S OIL QUANTITY WAS CHECKED AND CONFIRMED SECURED. THE PIC CONTINUED THE PREFLIGHT WALK AROUND CHECKING ALL ATTACHMENTS WERE SECURED AND AIRCRAFT PROTECTIVE COVERS WERE REMOVED FROM THE PITOT TUBE AND FUEL PRESSURE DRAIN LINES UNDER EACH WING.

THE PIC STATED THAT THE FIRST ATTEMPTS AT STARTING THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PIC STOPPED ATTEMPTING TO START THE AIRPLANE AND WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES FOR THE ENGINE STARTER TO COOL. THE SECOND ATTEMPT WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY. ENGINE RUNUP PRIOR TO TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL; MAGNETOS AND ALTERNATE AIR SOURCE WERE CHECKED AND FOUND NORMAL. THE PROPELLER WAS CYCLED AND FOUND NORMAL.

N3611Y DEPARTED RUNWAY 14 FROM GDJ. MS. THE PIC WAS NAVIGATING BY A GPS INSTALLED ON AN IPAD. AT 3,500 FEET, THE PIC ESTABLISHED LEVEL CRUISE SETTING THE AIRPLANE'S POWER TO 22 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE AND THE PROPELLER TO 2,300 RPM'S. THE PIC STATED THAT  THE FUEL MIXTURE WAS LEANED TO 13 GALLONS PER HOUR USING THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL FLOW GUAGE. ALL ENGINE INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. THE PIC STATED THAT THE RECOGNIZED CRUISE SPEED THE PIC WAS ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING THE EXPECTED POWER.

THE PIC STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, IN THE AREA OF BLUM, TEXAS, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PIC STATED THAT IT WAS SUSPECTED THE ENGINE WAS EXPERIENCING A VAPOR LOCK PROBLEM. THE PIC SWITCHED THE FUEL TANK FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT SIDE. THIS WAS PER CESSNA'S VAPOR LOCK CHECKLIST. THE ENGINE ROUGHNESS GOT WORSE SO THE PIC SWITCHED BACK TO THE RIGHT TANK. THE PPIC SELECTED THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP TO THE LOW SETTING. IT HAD NO EFFECT. THE PIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER RAPIDLY. THE PIC SELECTED THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP TO HIGH. IT HAD NO EFFECT. PER CESSNA'S CHECKLIST, THE PIC TRIED RAPIDLY RETARDING THE THROTTLE. THIS HAD NO EFFECT. THE PIC PREPARED THE AIRPLANE FOR AN EMERGENCY OFF AIRPORT LANDING. THE PIC STATED THAT A FIELD WAS CHOSEN THAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE BEST TAKING THE TERRAIN AND WIND INTO ACCOUNT.

THE PIC STATED THAT PER CESSNA'S PROCEDURES, IT WAS ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED DUE TO THE ENGINE-DRIVEN HYDRAULIC PUMP HAD ONLY WINDMILLING POWER AND CONSEQUENCES OF LANDING WITH A GEAR PARTIALLY EXTENDED WOULD BE WORSE. THE PIC HELD THE FLAP EXTENSION HANDLE IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE PIC STATED THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH PRESSURE TO PARTIALLY EXTEND THE FLAPS TO APPROXIMATELY 30 DEGREES. ON SHORT FINAL TO THE FIELD, THE PIC STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S IGNTION WAS TURNED OFF. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE FIELD AND SLID ON ITS BELLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST. AFTER THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST, THE PIC SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE OFF POSITION AND TURNED OFF THE ELECTRIC MASTER SWITCH. THE ELT DID NOT ACTIVATE.

THE PIC ESTIMATES THAT THE LENGTH OF TIME FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE ENGINE PROBLEM UNTIL THE EMERGENCY LANDING WAS COMPLETED WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES. THE PIC STATED THAT THE HEAVY WORKLOAD PREVENTED PERFORMING ANY OTHER CHECKLISTS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY ON THE RADIO. THE PIC CALLED 911 ON THE GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN18LA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA287), Jul 21, 2018: Cessna 210C (N3611Y), Blum, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive leaning of the fuel mixture, which resulted in a loss of engine power, and the pilot's failure to extend the landing gear in accordance with the airplane emergency checklist,…

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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