# NTSB CEN21LA371: Cessna 210D, N3944Y, West Fargo, ND, August 10, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 10, 2021, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: West Fargo, ND - Coordinates: 46.903989, -96.929787 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9040&lon=-96.9298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103685 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA371 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103685/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103685 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA371 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## 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; cases with it: [Cessna 210D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 210D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 210D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073414), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing a go-around at the destination airport when the airplane lost total engine power and subsequently impacted terrain. Postaccident examination revealed useable fuel in the left-wing fuel tank, and no useable fuel in the right fuel tank. The fuel selector was positioned to the left-wing fuel tank. The fuel vent system was unobstructed. The examination revealed little fuel in the fuel system from the fuel selector to the engine, which was consistent with fuel starvation. The fuel sender resistance values for the left-wing tank indicated that erroneous fuel quantity values would have been displayed at the cockpit fuel gauges. There were no anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of fuel starvation when the pilot exhausted the fuel supply in the right-wing tank. Although the fuel selector was found selected to the tank that contained fuel, it is likely that the pilot switched fuel tanks following the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2021, about 1545 central daylight time, a Cessna 210D airplane, N3944Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near West Fargo, North Dakota. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Witnesses stated that the pilot performed a go-around after an attempt to land on runway 18. During the go-around, the airplane banked right and the engine “cut out.” The airplane impacted a field west of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. An on-scene examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel selector was in the left tank position. There was about 8 gallons of fuel in the left wing fuel tank and no useable fuel in the right wing fuel tank. The right wing sustained impact damage, but there was no evidence of fuel on the ground at the accident site. There was no evidence of a fuel leak or fuel staining on the airplane. A subsequent examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the fuel system found about 1/8 ounce of fuel in the fuel system forward of the fuel selector. The fuel system lines and components were intact, secure, and did not exhibit any evidence of leakage. The fuel vent system was unobstructed. The fuel selector operated through its detents without anomaly. An ohmmeter was used to check resistances of both fuel senders when their float arms were positioned at the top and bottom mechanical stops. The approximate resistance values for the left fuel sender bottom stop was 28 ohms, the right fuel sender bottom stop was 38 ohms. According to the aircraft manufacturer, the fuel senders’ minimum resistance value should be 33.5 ohms +/- 2 ohms. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3944Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3944Y), registered now, S/N 21058444, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 210D - Registry model: [Cessna 210D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210d) (registry code 2073414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21058444 - Year built: 1964 - Engines: Continental IO-520-A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brown Pelican Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KOMA, Omaha, NE - Destination: D54, Fargo, ND - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: D54, West Fargo Muni, runway 18, 3,300 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 313.4 total, 175.2 in this make and model, 242.4 as pilot in command, 17.7 in the last 90 days, 1.6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 19 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.68 inHg - Observed at: KFAR, 5 nm away - METAR: KFAR 102053Z 26019G30KT 10SM CLR 31/07 A2968 RMK AO2 PK WND 26031/2011 SLP046 T03110072 58021 ## 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 20210810013649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210810013649A), Aug 10, 2021: Cessna 210D, West Fargo, ND, Destroyed. Aircraft engine quit after making right turn south of D54 after missed approach. Aircraft impacted trees and then was forced down in a bean field approximately… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103685. 17.4 MB in all. - Case notes (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14985645&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Case%20Notes%20CEN21LA371-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14985363&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN21LA371%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 810 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14986148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%204%20CEN21LA371-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 16.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14986190&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=74739%20NTSB%20Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-Rel.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.