# NTSB DEN90LA060: Cessna T207, N91146, Hungry Horse, MT, February 22, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 21, 1990, 19:28 local (Feb 22, 1990, 02:28 UTC)
- Place: Hungry Horse, MT
- Coordinates: 47.960971, -113.24044 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9610&lon=-113.2404&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17893
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17893/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA060

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE #4 CONNECTING ROD. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR 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) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AIRSPUR FLT 500, A DOMESTIC CARGO FLT, DEPARTED KALISPELL, MT, AT 1903 MDT WITH AN IFR FLT PLAN TO GREAT FALLS, MT. AT 1922, THE PLT NOTIFIED SALT LAKE ARTCC HE WAS RETURNING TO KALISPELL DUE TO A ROUGH RUNNING ENG. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE PLT REPORTED THE ENG HAD FAILED COMPLETELY. THE PLT MADE AN EMERG FORCED LANDING ON A MOUNTAIN RIDGE AT THE APRX 5500 FT LEVEL IN IFR CONDITIONS. ACCIDENT LOCATION WAS APRX 18 NM EAST OF KALISPELL. ENG DISASSEMBLY LATER REVEALED THE #4 CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N91146](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91146-1996-03-05), registration cancelled 1996-03-05, S/N 20700090 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T207
- Registry model: [Cessna T207](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t207) (registry code 2073612) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700090
- Airframe hours: 10455
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-G 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Corporate Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 1, 1990, 45 hours before
- Departed: FCA, KALISPELL, MT
- Destination: GTF, GREAT FALLS, MT
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,850 total, 27 in this make and model, 1,710 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FCA, 27 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 19900221005709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900221005709A), Feb 21, 1990: Cessna T207, Hungry Horse, MT, Destroyed. Engine threw rod at night in IFR. Saw cloud obscured ridge too late to avoid impact. Cylinder work prior to flight.

## Other investigations on N91146 (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 ANC76AA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76AA025), Aug 19, 1975: Cessna 207 (N91146), Cinder River, AK, 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.

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