# NTSB ATL89LA074: Cessna T210N, N5289Y, Florence, SC, January 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 14, 1989, 17:48 local (22:48 UTC)
- Place: Florence, SC
- Coordinates: 34.180011, -79.779449 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1800&lon=-79.7794&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7978
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89LA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7978/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA074

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO PROPERLY TORQUE THE THRU BOLTS DURING NUMBER 2 CYLINDER INSTALLATION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE TERRAIN FEATURES WHICH LED TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE GEAR DURING LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - engine assembly,cylinder - undertorqued (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - fluid,oil - starvation
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE CLIMBING THROUGH 5000 FT AFTER TKOF. THE KNOCKING WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE AND ENGINE VIBRATION. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE APPARENTLY HAD LOST A CYLINDER AND OIL PRESSURE WAS DROPPING. HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS. AFTER DESCENDING THROUGH CLOUDS, THE PLT REPORTED THAT SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE COWLING. THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LDG IN A SMALL FIELD. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSEGEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED TWO BROKEN CONNECTING RODS AND THAT TWO CRANKCASE THROUGHBOLTS WERE UNDERTORQUED. THE CRANKSHAFT MN BRG HAD ROTATED, BLOCKING THE OIL PASSAGE TO THE OTHER CRANKSHAFT BRGS. OVERHEATING OF THE CONNECTING ROD JOURNALS AND BRGS WAS EVIDENT. THE NO 2 CYLINDER HAD BEEN REPLACED JAN 2, 1989, 28 HRS BEFORE THE ACDT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5289Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5289Y-1992-11-10), registration cancelled 1992-11-10, S/N 21064153 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T210N64153
- Airframe hours: 2295
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TI0-520 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Ron Jon, Inc
- Registered owner: Ron Ton Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: FLO, FLORENCE, SC
- Destination: GNV, GAINESVILLE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FLO, Florence City, runway 18, 6,498 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,927 total, 710 in this make and model, 220 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FLO

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890114000569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890114000569A), Jan 14, 1989: Cessna T210N, Florence, SC, Substantial damage. A rod failed on climb to cruise. Nosed over on forced landing. Crankcase cylinder hold down bolts under torqued.

## Other investigations on N5289Y (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 FTW83LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA075), Jan 3, 1983: Cessna T210N (N5289Y), Orla, TX, substantial damage

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.

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