# NTSB CHI92FA215: Cessna P210N, N6503W, Mineral Point, WI, July 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1992, 14:33 local (19:33 UTC)
- Place: Mineral Point, WI
- Coordinates: 42.860683, -90.179481 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8607&lon=-90.1795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15300
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92FA215
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15300/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92FA215

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALL AND DESCENT INTO TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING.  RELATED FACTORS ARE THE MANUFACTURER'S UNDERTORQUED CRANKCASE HALVES AND INADEQUATE SURVEILLANCE, THE PILOT'S DELAY IN SETTING UP THE PROPER DESCENT RATE, AND THE ALTERED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE WITH THE SEPARATED PROPELLER ASSEMBLY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent - normal
  - engine assembly,crankcase - undertorqued (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,bearing - slipped
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - fatigue
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - failure,total
  - proper descent rate - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - propeller system/accessories - separation
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - aircraft performance - other (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. ATC ISSUED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT, WHICH WAS ABOUT TEN MILES AWAY. THE PILOT THEN ADVISED ATC HE LOST THE PROPELLER. ABOUT 3 MINUTES AFTER THE EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED, THE PILOT REPORTED 'I HAVE THE FIELD....DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE IT.' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN ABOUT 1.5 MILES EAST OF THE AIRPORT. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CRANKSHAFT WAS SEPARATED IN TWO LOCATIONS AND THE NO. 2 MAIN BEARING HAD SHIFTED IN THE JOURNAL. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED ONE FRACTURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO OVERSTRESS AND EXCESSIVE TORSIONAL LOADS. THE OTHER FRACTURE '...CONTAINED A WELL DEFINED CRACK ARREST PATTERN INDICATIVE OF A HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE CRACK. EXAMINATION OF THE CRANKCASE HALVES REVEALED EVIDENCE OF FRETTING AT THE MATING SURFACES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6503W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6503W-2013-09-26), registration cancelled 2013-09-26, S/N P21000789 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210N
- Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P21000789
- Airframe hours: 1465
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-AF 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jeanal Enterprises, Inc.
- Registered owner: Jeanal Enterprises, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1992, 44 hours before
- Departed: DSM, DES MOINES, IA
- Destination: OSH, OSHKOSH, WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: C32, Iowa County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,139 total, 869 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LNR, 25 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 19920729028009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920729028009A), Jul 29, 1992: Cessna P210N, Mineral Point, WI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Crankshaft fractured forward end causing front section including prop to depart aircraft. Pilot panicked landing.

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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