# NTSB DEN89IA047: Cessna 210L, N59217, Roswell, NM, December 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 23, 1988, 20:13 local (Dec 24, 1988, 03:13 UTC)
- Place: Roswell, NM
- Coordinates: 33.639492, -104.38005 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6395&lon=-104.3800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17613
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89IA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17613/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89IA047

## Analysis

PLT PREFLIGHTED ACFT AND NOTED INDICATION OF 9 QTS OF OIL IN CRANKCASE. FLT DEPARTED ROSWELL (ROW) IN NIGHT VMC EN ROUTE TO ABQ. PLT HAD JUST LEVELED OFF AT 6500 FT MSL WHEN HE NOTICED OIL PRESSURE GAUGE FLUCTUATING. OIL PRESSURE THEN BEGAN DROPPING AND PLT REVERSED COURSE BACK TO ROW. OIL PRESSURE THEN DROPPED TO ZERO. PLT SAID ENG STARTED MAKING NOISE AND COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE. WITH SOME PWR STILL AVAILABLE, PLT MADE LANDING ON HIGHWAY WITH THE LANDING GEAR UP. POST-INCIDENT EXAM OF ENG DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF DETONATION. NR 2 PISTON AND RINGS WERE BURNED, ALLOWING COMBUSTION GASES TO ESCAPE INTO CRANKCASE. HIGH EXHAUST GAS PRESSURE WITHIN CRANKCASE VENTED OIL OBERBOARD, CAUSING OIL STARVATION. THE ENG HAD 2053 HRS OF OPERATION AND 998 HRS SINCE A MAJOR OVERHAUL. ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT THE ENG HAD RECEIVED A 100 HR INSPECTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,piston - burned (cause)
  - engine assembly,ring - burned (cause)
  - fluid,oil - exhaustion
  - fuselage,crew compartment - smoke
- Forced landing, descent - emergency

## Aircraft

- Registration: N59217 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210L
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21060167
- Airframe hours: 6561
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-L 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: B & M Enterprises, Inc., doing business as New Mexico Flying Service
- Registered owner: Robert Janes
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 23, 1988, 3 hours before
- Departed: ROW, ROSWELL, NM
- Destination: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Airport: ROW, Roswell Industrial

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,826 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,602 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 5 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ROW, 6 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).

- [Incident 19881223056369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881223056369I), Dec 23, 1988: Cessna 210L, Roswell, NM, Minor damage. Detonation caused hole in piston. Pressure in crankcase forced oil out and engine siezed. Landed on road gear up.

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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