ATL01LA033

The flight was on final approach to land, when the engine lost power and quit. Attempts to restore full power by the pilot failed. During the approach for the emergency landing to the runway, the airplane collided with the trees short of the runway. Examination of the engine failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction. A small quantity of fuel recovered from the fuel system. The engine operated normally through all power ranges during the functional check.

On February 8, 2001, at 1417 eastern standard time, a Cessna 210M, N125LS, collided with trees while attempting a forced landing to Daniel Field in Augusta, Georgia. The positioning flight was operated by South Eastern Air Charters Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the pilot received minor injuries. The positioning flight departed Atlanta, Georgia, at 1345.

According to the operator, the pilot was positioning the airplane for an on-demand air-taxi flight from Augusta, Georgia. The pilot was on an instrument flight plan from Fulton County Airport-Brown Field in Atlanta, Georgia, to Daniel Field in Augusta, Georgia, to pick up a cargo delivery. When the pilot had a visual on Daniel Field, he cancelled the instrument flight plan and proceeded under visual flight rules. The flight was on final approach to land on runway 23, when the engine lost power and quit. The pilot attempted to restore full engine power but failed. The pilot elected to attempt an emergency landing to runway 05. The airplane collided with trees 400 yards short of the airport as the pilot maneuvered for an emergency landing; the airplane came to rest inverted.

According to the operator, the airplane was topped off with 46.4 gallons of aviation fuel the previous night. The operator reported that the airplane had flown 3.1 hours before it departed on the accident flight. Reportedly, the pilot added 10 gallons on the date of the accident; however, no fuel receipt was recovered. The operator estimated that 25 gallons of fuel should have been on board when the airplane at the time of the accident. A small quantity of fuel was recovered from the fuel system at the accident site, and no evidence of fuel spillage was observed at the accident site. The engine operated normally throughout all power ranges during the functional check. Examination of the engine failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction.