# NTSB DEN90LA078: Cessna T210J, N2KD, Englewood, CO, March 25, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 25, 1990, 13:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Coordinates: 39.580196, -104.859603 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5802&lon=-104.8596&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17906
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17906/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA078

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted
  - elevator trim - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - ditch
- Nose gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted
- Nose down, takeoff - aborted

## Analysis

THE PILOT TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF AND ATTEMPTED TO ROTATE AT 70 KNOTS. HE SAID FULL AFT PRESSURE ON THE YOKE WOULD NOT CAUSE THE PLANE TO LIFT OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO ABORT AFTER THE PLANE REACHED 90 KNOTS, BUT LOST CONTROL. THE PLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK A CULVERT IN A DITCH. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE PLANE NOSED DOWN. THE FIREWALL, GEAR, PROPELLER AND PART OF THE FUSELAGE WERE BENT. THE PILOT SAID THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOLLOWING REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE AUTOPILOT. THE PILOT SAID HE ALWAYS ROLLED THE ELEVATOR TRIM WHEEL A HALF- TURN FORWARD FOR TAKEOFF, SINCE HE ALWAYS LEFT THE TRIM FULLAFT AT LANDING. HE DID NOT NOTE THE INDICATOR POSITION, SINCE THE INDICATOR WAS BROKEN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE INDICATOR AND SET TRIM TO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE MAINTENANCE. NO FAULT WAS FOUND WITH THE TRIM OR AUTOPILOT SYSTEM. A CESSNA ENG. ESTIMATED THE REPORTED TRIM SETTING WOULD REQUIRE CONSIDERABLE STRENGHT TO OVERCOME FOR TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2KD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2KD), registered now, S/N T210-0436, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210J
- Registry model: [Cessna T210J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210j) (registry code 2073440) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: T210-0436
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-HI 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Hugh R. Catherwood
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Destination: OKC, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 10, 4,900 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 80; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 6,160 total, 4,886 in this make and model, 6,145 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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 19900325005259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900325005259A), Mar 25, 1990: Cessna T210J, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Unable to rotate for liftoff, aborted late. Ran off end runway into culvert. Had near full down trim.

## Other investigations on N2KD (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 DEN04CA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA096), Jul 3, 2004: Cessna T210J (N2KD), Cheyenne, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: the detachment of the nut and bolt that attaches the throttle control cable to the fuel induction due to improper maintenance. Contributing factors were the fiber optics wire, fence, and ditch, and…

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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