# NTSB ATL95LA048: Cessna T210G, N6854R, Covington, TN, February 9, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 9, 1995, 12:24 local (18:24 UTC) - Place: Covington, TN - Coordinates: 35.560241, -89.639083 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5602&lon=-89.6391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3521/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA048 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, IN THAT HE DID NOT ADEQUATELY DRAIN WATER FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM, RESULTING IN WATER INGESTION INTO THE ENGINE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FLOWN ON THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER BEING PAINTED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE QUIT. HE WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS FORCE LANDED IN A FIELD. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED ABOUT 3 OUNCES OF WATER IN THE FUEL GASCOLATOR, AND THE FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR TO THE GASCOLATOR WAS FILLED WITH WATER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY IN A TEST CELL; NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS OBSERVED. ## Factual narrative On February 9, 1995, at 1224 central standard time, a Cessna T210G, N6854R, collided with terrain during a forced landing near Covington, Tennessee. The airline transport pilot had minor injuries, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated in Covington, Tennessee at an undetermined time. The pilot was flying the aircraft immediately after the aircraft exterior had been painted. During cruise flight, the engine lost power. Unable to make the airport, the aircraft was landed in a field, about 7 miles southwest of the Covington Municipal Airport. During the forced landing, the aircraft sustained structural damage. The wreckage was examined following the accident by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration. He reported that the wing fuel tanks were ruptured during the ground impact, which prevented the determination of fuel tank quantity and contamination. The fuel gascolator was opened, and contained about 3 ounces of water. The fuel line to the gascolator was completely filled with water, with no evidence of fuel present. The engine was crated and shipped to the manufacturer's facility for an inspection. The engine was installed in a test cell, and prepared for a test run. Due to impact damage, the turbocharger was not installed for the test run. A fuel pressure line fitting was replaced due to impact damage. The engine started on the first attempt, with about one revolution of the propeller. The engine was run at a peak rpm of about 2,700, with a corresponding fuel flow of 167 pounds per hour. The engine driven fuel pump and magnetos functioned normally. The engine ran smoothly at idle rpm, and transitioned smoothly to full throttle rpm. After several minutes of operation, the test run was concluded. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6854R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6854R-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N T210-0254, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210G - Registry model: [Cessna T210G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210g) (registry code 2073432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T2100254 - Airframe hours: 3365 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Newsome, Joel M. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1995, 1 hours before - Departed: M04, TN - Destination: 2M8 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MEM, 32 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950209001419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950209001419A), Feb 9, 1995: Cessna T210G, Covington, TN, Substantial damage. First flight after painting. Engine quit. Landed in field. Found water in fuel. Inadequate fuel sumping. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.