# NTSB CEN17LA157: Cessna 210, N7358E, Minden, LA, April 15, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 2017, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Minden, LA - Coordinates: 32.657775, -93.298614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6578&lon=-93.2986&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95014/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95014 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA157 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel planning and in-flight fuel monitoring, which resulted in a total 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 210, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073402), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 210, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073402), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 210, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2073402), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073402), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 210, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073402), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 210, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073402), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger were on a cross-country personal flight in a single-engine airplane. As the airplane approached the destination airport, the engine lost power. The pilot turned on the fuel boost pump and switched fuel tanks, but engine power was not restored. The pilot selected a field for a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a tree and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. During the recovery of the airplane, about 5 gallons of fuel were drained from each wing fuel tank. An engine test run was conducted by connecting a fuel line to the airplane's right-side fuel line. The fuel boost pump was operated, and the engine started and ran with no anomalies. A review of the airplane type certificate data sheet indicated that the airplane was equipped with two wing fuel tanks for a total capacity of 65 gallons, with useable fuel of 55 gallons. Given the available information, it is likely the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative ***This report was modified on July 2, 2020. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** On April 15, 2017, about 1150 central daylight time, a Cessna 210 airplane, N7358E, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Minden Airport (MNE) Minden, Louisiana. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations 91 personal flight. The pilot reported he planned to fly to MNE, then to the Thomas P Stafford Airport (OJA),Weatherford, Oklahoma. As he approached MNE, he listened to the AWOS (Automated Weather Reporting Station) and set up for a left turn to runway 19. About 1,500 ft and 3 miles from the runway, the engine rpms dropped and the engine lost power. He reported he immediately switched fuel tanks; from the right to the left tank, which indicated a little over a quarter of a tank and activated the fuel boost pump. Engine power was not restored, and he selected a hay field for the forced landing. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted the airplane's left wing had impacted a tree during the landing. The airplane also had a collapsed nose wheel and a bent right main landing gear. Visual inspection of the airplane noted that engine's oil dip stick indicated a minimal amount of oil, the right fuel tank contained about 3 inches of fuel, and the left fuel tank contained about 1.5 inches of fuel. During recovery of the accident airplane, the recovery crew drained about 5 gallons of fuel from each wing. The airplane was transported back to Oklahoma where a mechanic attached a fuel line to the airplane's right-side fuel line and operated the fuel boost pump. The engine started and ran normally. A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed the annual maintenance inspection had expired on February 28, 2017. A review of the airplane's TCDS (Type Certificate Data Sheet), revealed the airplane was equipped with two wing fuel tanks for a total capacity of 65 gallons and 55 gallons useable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7358E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7358E-2019-11-29), registration cancelled 2019-11-29, S/N 57058, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 210](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210) (registry code 2073402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 57058 - Year built: 1960 - Airframe hours: 2945.2 - Engines: Continental IO-470-E 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 23, 2016 - Departed: KNEW, New Orleans, LA - Destination: KOJA, Weatherford, OK - Airport: KMNE, Minden Airport, runway 19, 5,004 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 345 total, 68 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KMNE ## 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 20170415021349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170415021349A), Apr 15, 2017: Cessna 210, Minden, LA, Substantial damage. The aircraft departed new orleans (knew) with a direct flight to Minden (mne). On a long left turn onto final to mne, the aircraft experienced loss of power.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95014. 517 KB in all. - Memo (item 1, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 457 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.