# NTSB DEN89LA206: Cessna T210M, N761RP, Rangely, CO, September 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1989, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Rangely, CO
- Coordinates: 40.079524, -108.769393 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0795&lon=-108.7694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17775
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17775/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA206

## Probable cause

FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AS A RESULT OF AN ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE.

## 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, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - failure,total (cause)
  - engine assembly,crankshaft - fatigue (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable (cause)
  - wheels up landing - performed, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN ROUGH, UNEVEN TERRAIN, FOLLOWING AN ENGINE FAILURE. HE ELECTED TO LAND WHEELS UP DUE TO THE TERRAIN. THE PLANE STRUCK BRUSH AND CAME TO REST AFTER SLIDING 200 FEET. THE LEFT WING TIP, ENGINE COWLING AND RIGHT WING WERE DAMAGED. POSTACCIDENT ENGINE TEAR DOWN AND ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT A FATIGUE CRACK HAD PROPAGATED FROM A SUBSURFACE FLAW. THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN BETWEEN THE NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE MAIN BEARING JOURNALS AND RESULTED IN COMPLETE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N761RP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N761RP-1991-09-03), registration cancelled 1991-09-03, S/N 21062460 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210M
- Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062460
- Airframe hours: 1536
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Kirk Fry
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 1989, 47 hours before
- Departed: 2UC, GUNNISON, CO
- Destination: JAC, JACKSON, WY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 812 total, 172 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19890904033569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890904033569A), Sep 4, 1989: Cessna T210M, Rangely, CO, Substantial damage. Noisy rough engine and oil pressure loss. Landed gear up and went through a fence. Crankshaft broken from fatigue.

## Other investigations on N761RP (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 FTW88IA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88IA078), Feb 28, 1988: Cessna T210M (N761RP), Grosebeck, TX, incident, minor 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.

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