# NTSB DEN01LA022: Cessna 210C, N969RJ, Boulder, CO, December 13, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 2000, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Boulder, CO - Coordinates: 40.020832, -105.250816 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0208&lon=-105.2508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50765 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50765/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA022 ## Probable cause Total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination (water), and failure of the pilot to have the airplane completely refueled. A factor was unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The airplane had sat dormant for almost 8 years, and extensive checks and servicing were performed to prepare it for a ferry flight to a nearby airport where it was scheduled to undergo an annual inspection. FAA issued a ferry permit. The airplane was placed in a heated hangar the night before the flight. When the pilot preflighted the airplane the next morning, 'a little water' was found in the gascolator and 'a tiny amount' was found in the right wing sump. He chose not to have the fuel drained and the airplane serviced with fresh fuel. He later told a local newspaper that he had drained the fuel system and thought he had removed all the water, 'but apparently it was not enough.' He was unsuccessful in trying to start the engine. After it was preheated, the engine started, and he performed 'an extended time warm up and extended pretakeoff run-up.' Shortly after taking off, the engine lost 'complete power.' The pilot enriched the mixture and turned the auxiliary fuel pump first to LOW, then to HIGH. Power returned momentarily, then the engine lost power again. The pilot did not have a chance to switch fuel tanks, but concentrated instead on the forced landing. The airplane 'skimmed the tops of hills, went through a fence, nosed over, and tumbled 2 or 3 times.' Later examination of the engine disclosed the plunger in the fuel manifold was frozen in position, and there was ice in the chamber under the screen. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 2000, approximately 1415 mountain standard time, a Cessna 210C, N969RJ, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a forced landing at Boulder, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the ferry flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had originated from the Boulder Municipal Airport immediately prior to the accident. The airplane had sat dormant for almost 8 years, and extensive checks and servicing were performed to prepare it for the ferry flight to Centennial Airport where it was scheduled to undergo an annual inspection. FAA issued a ferry permit. According to the pilot's accident report, the airplane was parked in a heated hangar the night before the ferry flight. When he preflighted the airplane the next morning, "a little water" was found in the gascolator and only "a tiny amount" was found in the right wing sump. He chose not to have the fuel drained and the airplane serviced with fresh fuel. He later told a local newspaper that he had drained the fuel system and thought he had removed all the water, "but apparently it was not enough." The pilot was unsuccessful in trying to start the engine. After it was preheated, the engine started. He performed "an extended time warm up and extended pretakeoff run-up. All things were normal." The pilot took off on runway 8L. As he was climbing through 350 to 400 feet agl, the engine lost "complete power." He enriched the mixture and turned the auxiliary fuel pump first to LOW, then to HIGH. Power returned momentarily, then the engine quit again. The pilot did not have a chance to switch fuel tanks, but concentrated instead on the forced landing. The airplane "skimmed the tops of hills, went through a fence, nosed over, and tumbled 2 or 3 times." The propeller separated from the engine, which was torn from the airframe, the vertical stabilizer was crushed, and both wings were bent. On February 8, 2001, the airplane and engine were examined at Beegles Aircraft Services in Greeley, Colorado. A Teledyne Continental Motors representative removed the top of the fuel manifold, but was unable to dislodge the plunger. It was eventually forced out with a screwdriver. Ice had locked the plunger in position, and ice was noted in the chamber under the screen. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N969RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N969RJ-2004-05-04), registration cancelled 2004-05-04, S/N 21058164, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 210C - Registry model: [Cessna 210C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210c) (registry code 2073412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 210-58164 - Airframe hours: 5708 - Engines: Continental IO-470-S 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: James E. Muro - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 12, 1992, 28 hours before - Departed: 1V5, CO - Destination: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO - Airport: 1V5, Boulder Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,285 total, 24 in this make and model, 1,190 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 12 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 20001213028809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001213028809A), Dec 13, 2000: Cessna 210C, Boulder, CO, No damage. (-23) A/c had received a ferry permit to allow flight from Boulder, CO to centennial airport, englewood, CO. The a/c had reportedly been sitting dormant for… ## Other investigations on N969RJ (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW66F0249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66F0249), Aug 22, 1965: Cessna 210C (N969RJ), Midland, TX, substantial damage 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.