CEN22LA137

The fuel-injected engine lost power on final approach. Efforts to restore engine power were not successful and the flight instructor executed a forced landing about 1/2-mile short of the runway. A postimpact fire consumed portions of the fuselage and right wing. Postrecovery airframe and engine examinations revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. However, examination of the airframe fuel system was hindered by the extent of the fire damage. Available information indicated that sufficient fuel was onboard for the airplane. As a result, the investigation was unable to determine the reason for the loss of engine power.

On March 8, 2022, at 1417 mountain standard time, a Cessna P210N airplane, N210GE, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Englewood, Colorado. The pilot and flight instructor both sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was established on the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 35R as it approached Centennial Airport. The tower controller subsequently instructed them to sidestep to runway 35L. This required the pilot to extend the glide path because the runway arrival thresholds are offset. However, as the pilot attempted to increase engine power, he realized that it was not responding. Attempts to restore engine power by activating the auxiliary fuel pump and changing fuel tanks were not successful. Unable to glide to the runway, the flight instructor executed a forced landing about 1/2-mile short of the runway. The airplane landed in the grass median area between traffic lanes of an interstate highway and came to rest on a steel-cable safety barrier. A postimpact fire ensued. The airplane sustained impact damage to the forward fuselage and both wings. The postimpact fire consumed portions of the fuselage, cockpit/cabin area, and right wing. Postrecovery airframe and engine examinations did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability of the fuel-injected engine to produce rated power. However, examination of the airframe fuel system was hindered by the extent of the fire damage. The airplane was equipped with two wing fuel tanks each capable of holding about 44 gallons of useable fuel. The airplane was also equipped with an auxiliary fuel tank, located in the aft baggage compartment, capable of holding about 30 gallons of fuel. Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the accident flight was 1 hour and 48 minutes in duration. The pilot’s operating handbook indicated that the expected fuel consumption was 18 – 20 gallons per hour during cruise flight. Accordingly, the expected fuel consumption for the flight would be approximately 36 gallons. The pilot reported that the flight departed with 118 gallons of fuel onboard. The airplane was equipped with two wing fuel tanks each capable of holding about 44 gallons of useable fuel. The airplane was also equipped with an auxiliary fuel tank, located in the aft baggage compartment, capable of holding about 30 gallons of fuel.