# NTSB CEN10LA256: Cessna P206B, N50LP, Spring Branch, TX, May 17, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 17, 2010, 18:53 local (23:53 UTC)
- Place: Spring Branch, TX
- Coordinates: 29.848333, -98.461387 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8483&lon=-98.4614&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76038
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA256
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76038/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76038
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA256

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna P206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=2073309), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna P206B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2073309), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna P206B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073309), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and passenger were returning to the airport after performing a maintenance test flight. While descending through 2,500 feet mean sea level, the airplane's engine abruptly lost total power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. He then selected an open area and performed a forced landing. During the landing the airplane impacted terrain resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wing spar. During recovery of the airplane, the recovery crew drained approximately 10 gallons from the right fuel tank and found the left fuel tank empty. An examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed debris partially obstructing the filter of the fuel mixture unit. No other filters contained this debris and the source of the debris could not be determined. The fuel lines were opened and absent of fuel from the auxiliary fuel pump to the fuel manifold. Fuel was observed within the fuel manifold.

## Factual narrative

On May 17, 2010, approximately 1853 central daylight time, a Cessna P206B, N50LP, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain near Spring Branch, Texas. The private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed the Kestrel Airpark (1T7), San Antonio, Texas, at 1756. In a telephone interview conducted with the pilot, the pilot and passenger were performing a maintenance test flight and were returning to the airfield. While descending through 2,500 feet mean sea level, the airplane's engine abruptly lost total power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The pilot radioed a distress call to the airport, which was received by airport personnel. Due to proximity to the ground, the pilot stopped further engine troubleshooting, and elected to conduct a forced landing to an open field. A row of trees blocked the airplane's path during the forced landing, so the pilot maneuvered the airplane but the airplane impacted terrain. Damage was sustained to the airplane's fuselage and wing spar. During recovery of the airplane, the recovery crew drained approximately 10 gallons from the right fuel tank and found the left fuel tank empty. The airplane wreckage was examined by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with technical assistance provided by Cessna Aircraft and Teledyne Continental Motors. An examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies which would have precluded normal engine operation. An examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed debris partially obstructing the filter of the fuel mixture unit. No other filters contained this debris and the source of the debris could not be determined. The fuel lines were opened and absent of fuel from the auxiliary fuel pump to the fuel manifold. Fuel was found within the fuel manifold. No other anomalies were discovered with the airframe. The examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies which would have precluded normal engine operations. A review of data downloaded from the GPS unit revealed that the pilot departed the airport at 1756 and flew towards Hondo, Texas, before heading north to Boerne, Texas, before attempting to return to 1T7. The last GPS point recorded a speed of 65 knots, 68 feet above ground level descending approximately 700 feet per minute. The airplane maintenance records were not recovered during this investigation. The most recent annual inspection could not be determined. The owner did not return a NTSB Form 6120.1 prior to the completion of this investigation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N50LP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50LP-2017-07-18), registration cancelled 2017-07-18, S/N P206-0376, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P206B
- Registry model: [Cessna P206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p206b) (registry code 2073309) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P206-0376
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Flight test, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: K1T7, Kestrel Airpark, TX
- Destination: K1T7, Kestrel Airpark, TX
- Airport: 1T7, Kestrel Airpark

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2010

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)
- Wind: 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KSAT, 22 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 20100517039599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100517039599A), May 17, 2010: Cessna P206B, Spring Branch, TX, Substantial damage. On may 17, 2010, a Cessna, N50LP, P206 lost power and made an emergency landing on the goss ranch in Spring Branch. The pilot reported that they were heading…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76038. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1: not obtained (item 1, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%3A%20not%20obtained-Master.PDF
- Witness Statement: Record of conversation with pilot (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%3A%20Record%20of%20conversation%20with%20pilot-Master.PDF
- Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams: Accident flightpath (item 3, .PDF, 756 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams%3A%20Accident%20flightpath-Master.PDF
- Maps or Charts of Accident Area, Wreckage Diagrams: Flightpath towards off field landing (item 4, .PDF, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20or%20Charts%20of%20Accident%20Area,%20Wreckage%20Diagrams%3A%20Flightpath%20towards%20off%20field%20landing-Master.PDF
- Photo set: 2 photos embedded, 3 pages (item 5, .PDF, 468 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345403&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20set%3A%202%20photos%20embedded,%203%20pages-Master.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 838 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF

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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