# NTSB CEN11CA132: Cessna T210L, N210BH, Abilene, TX, December 29, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 29, 2010, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC) - Place: Abilene, TX - Coordinates: 32.411109, -99.681945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4111&lon=-99.6819&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78071 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78071/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78071 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA132 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035000/cases.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on a 615-nautical mile cross-country flight that reportedly would take him about four hours and fifteen minutes to complete. He reported that he had about five and one-half hours of fuel on-board, and that he received a weather briefing before departing. The briefing indicated that he would encounter marginal visual flight conditions en route to his destination. During the flight, stronger than expected wind conditions were adding about 10 minutes to his flight, and about 50 miles from his destination, he started his descent from 9,500 feet with a solid cloud layer below him. He contacted the air traffic controller and received an instrument rules flight plan for an approach to his destination. He said that as he broke out from the clouds, it was too late to make a landing at the airport, and the engine lost power. He switched fuel tanks and the engine re-started. He said that the controller asked him if he had enough fuel to a make an alternate airport, located about 44 miles away, to which he responded that the right fuel tank showed one-third full. About 3 miles from the alternate airport the engine lost power again, this time the pilot could not get it restarted. He then elected to conduct a forced landing on a road. During the forced landing the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer impacted a signpost, causing substantial damage to the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot departed on a 615-nautical mile cross-country flight, that reportedly would take him about four hours and fifteen minutes to complete. The pilot reported he had about five and a-half hours of fuel on-board, and that he received a weather briefing before departing. Additionally, marginal visual flight conditions en route to his destination was anticipated. During the flight, stronger than expected winds were adding about 10 minutes to his flight, and about 50 miles from his destination, he started his descent from 9,500 feet with a solid cloud layer below him. So, the pilot contacted air traffic control and received an instrument rules (IFR) flight plan for an approach to his destination airport. The pilot stated as he broke out from the clouds, it was too late to make a landing on the airport. At this time, the engine quit; he switched fuel tanks and the engine re-started. Air traffic control asked the pilot if he had enough fuel to a make an alternate airport, located about 44 miles away, to which the pilot responded that the right fuel tank showed one-third full. About 3 miles from the alternate airport the engine quit again, this time the pilot could not get it restarted. The pilot then elected to conduct a forced landing on a road. During the forced landing the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer impacted a signpost, causing substantial damage to the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N210BH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N210BH), registered now, S/N 21060954, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210L - Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21060954 - Airframe hours: 4600 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2010 - Departed: KTUS, Tucson Intnl, AZ - Destination: KETN, Eastland, TX - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 954 total, 107 in this make and model, 756 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KABI ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78071. 535 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 495 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.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. --- 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.