# NTSB DEN83FA149: Cessna T210M, N761AU, Englewood, CO, June 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 1983, 16:34 local (22:34 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.579536, -104.860198 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5795&lon=-104.8602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15992
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15992/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA149

## 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
  - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - checklist - not used, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Complete gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PILOT HAD LEANED THE MIXTURE PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE CHECKLIST CALLS FOR FULL RICH. WHEN THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE STARTED DETONATING AND LOST POWER. DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT EVIDENCE OF DETONATION AND ABNORMAL HEAT WAS FOUND. DURING A TEST RUN OF THE ENGINE CONDITIONS WERE USED TO SIMULATE THE ACCIDENT TAKEOFF. THE RESULTS WERE THE SAME. THE PILOT WAS QUERIED ABOUT THE USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL. HEREPEATED HIS METHODS WHICH HE SAID WAS THE WAY HE WAS TAUGHT BY A CFI WHO WAS NOT FOUND FOR COMMENT. THE PILOT NEVER MENTIONED THAT THE CHECKLIST CALLS FOR FULL RICH MIXTURE FOR THE TURBOCHARGED ENGINE. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 9,300 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N761AU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N761AU-2012-10-19), registration cancelled 2012-10-19, S/N 21062109, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210M
- Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062109
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Castlewood Aviation
- Registered owner: Steve Shultz
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 10, 1983
- Departed: APA, ENGLEWOOD, CO
- Destination: SKX, TAOS, NM

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 476 total, 34 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: APA, 4 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 19830621031929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830621031929A), Jun 21, 1983: Cessna T210M, Englewood, CO, Substantial damage. Loss of engine power due to detonation and improper use of mixture control. Checklist says full rich for takeoff.

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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