# NTSB CEN11LA034: Cessna T210N, N200WT, Presidio, TX, October 25, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 2010, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Presidio, TX
- Coordinates: 29.633888, -104.361663 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6339&lon=-104.3617&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77667
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77667/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77667
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA034

## Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion for undetermined reasons.

## 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 T210N, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna T210N, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073456), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot used a power setting of 2500 rpm and 30 inches manifold pressure after departure and the airplane climbed through 7,000 feet at 110 knots indicated airspeed. The fuel pressure started fluctuating and the engine began accelerating and decelerating. The pilot turned the fuel pump to LOW BOOST and switched fuel tanks. Engine power continued to fluctuate and the engine rpm began to decay. The pilot turned back towards the departure airport. He was unable to restore power and, during the ensuing forced landing, the airplane impacted terrain that tore off the empennage, bent the right wing, and collapsed the landing gear. Both fuel tanks were found to be intact. The retrieval company reported draining "only a few gallons" of fuel from the tanks when the wreckage was recovered. The pilot indicated that over 60 gallons of fuel should have been on board. The engine was later functionally tested and operated smoothly at all power settings with no anomalies noted.

## Factual narrative

On October 25, 2010, approximately 1130 central daylight time, a Cessna T210N, N200WT, registered to and operated by DIT Corporation, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Presidio, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The airline transport certificated pilot and one passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The cross-country flight originated at Presidio (T77), Texas, and was en route to El Paso (ELP), Texas. According to the pilot's accident report, he had flown from Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to T77. He took off from T77 and was climbing through 7,000 feet at 110 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed), using a power setting of 2500 RPM and 30 inches MAP (manifold pressure). Fuel pressure started fluctuating and the engine began "accelerating and decelerating." The pilot turned the fuel pump to LOW BOOST and switched fuel tanks. Engine power continued to fluctuate and RPMs began to decay. The pilot turned back towards T77. He was unable to restore power and during the ensuing forced landing, impacted terrain that tore off the empennage, bent the right wing, and collapsed the landing gear. Both fuel tanks were found to be intact. The retrieval company reported draining "only a few gallons" of fuel from the tanks when the wreckage was recovered. The pilot stated he had departed Santa Teresa with full fuel tanks (88 gallons), and the 1 hour, 5 minute flight to Presidio should have left "in excess of 60 gallons on board." On March 9, 2011, the engine was functionally tested at the facilities of Air Salvage of Dallas (Texas). According to the NTSB investigator's statement, the engine operated smoothly at all power settings with no anomalies noted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N200WT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N200WT-2019-12-23), registration cancelled 2019-12-23, S/N 21063050, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21063050
- Airframe hours: 3378
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: DIT Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 26, 2009, 52 hours before
- Departed: T77, Presidio, TX
- Destination: 5T6, Santa Teresa, NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: T77, Presidio Lely International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 27,000 total, 900 in this make and model, 27,000 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Observed at: MRF, 37 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 20101025049309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101025049309A), Oct 25, 2010: Cessna T210N, Presido, TX, Destroyed. On departure from Presidio, Texas, climbing through 8,000 MSL, engine went to idle due to low fuel pressure. Pilot turned boost pump on high to no avail. Pilot…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 24, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77667. 573 KB in all.

- NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 482 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- NTSB Investigator's Statement, Engine Run (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344927&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Investigator%27s%20Statement,%20Engine%20Run-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot's Response to Engine Run Results (item 3, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344929&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Response%20to%20Engine%20Run%20Results-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344735&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.

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