- Date
- April 3, 1992, 17:43 local (22:43 UTC)
- Place
- Florence, SC
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7320ECessna 210
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920403008829A
- Case key
- 8582
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The improper installation of the engine counterweight retention rings which resulted in the separation of the retention pin, allowing the leading edge of the counterweight to strike the crankcase. Factors in the accident were the subseqent loss of power and the soft field.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While cruising at 5000 feet MSL, the pilot experienced a complete loss of engine power. The pilot established an emergency descent for a forced landing in a nearby field. Upon touchdown, the nose wheel dug into the plowed field and the airplane nosed over. The engine examination disclosed that the no. 3 and no. 4 connecting rods were broken and there was a hole in the engine crankcase adjacent to the #4 cylinder. The engine teardown revealed that 2 counterweight retention rings had been dislodged from their normally installed positions. The examination also revealed that the retention rings were installed with the bevelled side of the ring outboard and the flat side inboard. According to the engine overhaul manual, the flat side of the retention rings should be installed outboard. The remaining retention rings were installed properly. Historical maintenance information on the counterweight was not recovered.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7320E
- Reported as
- Cessna 210
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 57020
- Airframe hours
- 2,800
- Engine
- Continental IO-470-E, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Held, Daniel Z.
- Registered owner
- Held, Daniel Z.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 8, 1991 · 10 hours before
- Destination
- JAX · Jacksonville, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 150 total · 33 in this make and model · 5 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FLO, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7320E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.