# NTSB CEN14LA076: Cessna T210L, N21ME, Lake Providence, LA, November 27, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 2013 - Place: Lake Providence, LA - Coordinates: 32.61639, -91.27333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6164&lon=-91.2733&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 3, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88514 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88514/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88514 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA076 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of available fuel and incorrect use of the fuel boost pump which resulted in a total loss of engine power at a low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (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) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); 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) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Cessna T210L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2073449), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed for a nearby private airstrip for an expected 12-minute flight. During cruise flight, at 500 feet above the ground , the left fuel tank was low on fuel so the pilot switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank. After the engine began to "sputter," the pilot turned on the fuel boost pump; however, the problem continued until the engine lost power. He then elected to conduct a forced landing into a field. During the landing, the landing gear touched down on the wet ground, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank contained an undetermined amount of fuel. There was no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's application of the fuel boost pump likely flooded the engine with fuel after switching fuel tanks, causing the engine to lose power. ## Factual narrative On November 27, 2013, about 1410 central standard time, a Cessna 210L airplane, N21ME, conducted a forced landing into a field after a total loss of engine power near Lake Providence, Louisiana. The commercial was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Montrose Air, Inc., under the provision of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Scott Airport (M80), Tallulah, Louisiana at 1400 and was destined for Oak Grove, Louisiana. The pilot departed from M80 and was cruising at 500 feet above the ground. The left fuel tank was low on fuel so he switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank. The engine began to "sputter" so he turned on the fuel boost pump. The "engine continued to sputter [and] then shut off." He conducted a forced landing into a field. During the landing, the landing gear touched down on the wet and muddy ground and the airplane nosed over. An examination of the airplane was conducted by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The examination revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank contained an undetermined amount of fuel. He did not observe any mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The inspector received information from the engine manufacturer that if the boost pump were turn on in this situation it could flood the engine with fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21ME](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21ME-2014-11-07), registration cancelled 2014-11-07, S/N 21060224, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210L (M) - Registry model: [Cessna T210L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210l) (registry code 2073449) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520-L](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-l) (registry code 17239, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21060224 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 2212 - Engines: Continental Motors Inc TSIO-520-H reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Montrose Air Inc - Registered owner: Montrose Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2013 - Departed: M80, TALLULAH, LA - Destination: Oak Grove, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 25, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 11,986 total, 110 in this make and model, 11,931 as pilot in command, 400 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 8 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KTVR, 16 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 20131127024499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131127024499A), Nov 27, 2013: Cessna T210L, Oak Grove, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot departed tallulah la for Oak Grove la. At 1000 feet with left fuel tank selected, engine started running rough. Pilot immediately switched to right tank,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88514. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 332 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406436&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406437&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Correspondence with Insurance Provider (item 3, .PDF, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406438&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Insurance%20Provider-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Damage to Airplane (item 4, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40406439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Damage%20to%20Airplane-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.